§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will support the European Commission's proposal that financial assistance should be given to farmers to help them adopt higher animal welfare systems. [77687]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 30 October 2002]: As a European leader in the animal welfare field, the UK supports the principle of encouraging adoption of higher welfare standards through financial assistance. However, we will need to be careful that any system adopted is workable and fair, and that it is compatible with World Trade Organisation rules.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will support the European Commission's proposal to link the payment of Common Agricultural Policy subsidies to farmers with their compliance with animal welfare laws; and if she will make a statement. [77688]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 30 October 2002]: The Government supports the principle of the European Commission's proposal to decouple support from production and create a single income payment linked to compliance with animal welfare, environment and food and occupational safety standards. There has only been limited discussion on this aspect of the proposals so far and more clarification is needed, as the details will be important to the effectiveness of this proposal.
§ Ann ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the welfare of milking cows. [80040]
§ Mr. MorleyThere is legislation in place to protect the welfare of dairy cows. The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000 sets down general welfare requirements for all farmed animals, including some detailed requirements for cattle. There is also a specific welfare code on cattle. This is currently being updated and the revised code will include a separate section devoted to the welfare of dairy cattle.
§ Mr. ProsserTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many(a) live sheep and (b) live pigs have been exported from 564W the United Kingdom to date in 2002 for (i) slaughter, (ii) further fattening and (iii) breeding; and how many (A) sheep and (B) pigs in each of these categories were exported to each individual country of destination. [77508]
§ Mr. MorleyThe total number of live sheep and live pigs certified for export from the United Kingdom between 1 January 2002 and 1 November 2002 for slaughter, fattening and breeding are shown in the following tables.
Country of destination Live Sheep Slaughter Fattening Breeding Austria 0 0 22 Belgium 0 0 4 France 49,476 3,040 158 Germany 4,129 0 5 Isle of Man 0 0 11 Italy 29,244 0 0 Netherlands 456 0 55 Republic of Ireland 166,865 385 92 Totals 250,170 3,425 347
Country of destination Live Pigs Slaughter Fattening Breeding Belgium 0 0 3,888 Denmark 0 0 47 France 0 0 47 Germany 0 0 3,628 Greece 0 0 171 Isle of Man 0 0 71 Italy 0 0 1,194 Netherlands 0 0 9,038 Philippines 0 0 75 Poland 0 0 701 Spain 0 0 1,607 Republic of Ireland 20,951 0 22 Totals 20,951 0 20,489
§ Mr. ProsserTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many live sheep were exported from Dover to continental Europe on(a) 17 October, (b) 18 October, (c) 20 October and (d) 24 October; when and where health certification was carried out in respect of the sheep; how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey (i) during inspection for health certification purposes and (ii) at Dover docks, and to where those sheep were taken; and what the address was of the final destination on the route plan for each of the consignments; [78620]
(2) how many live sheep were exported from Dover to continental Europe on the (a) Alda-K, and (b) Caroline to Continental Europe on the 29 October; when and where health certification was carried out in respect of the sheep; how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey (i) during inspection for health certification purposes and (ii) at Dover docks, and to where those sheep were taken; and what the address was of the final destination on the route plan for each of the consignments. [79005]
§ Mr. MorleyThe information requested is as follows:
565W
Date Total animals Where consignments were certified Animals rejected at certification Animals rejected at Dover docks Destination 17–10 3000 England, Scotland and Wales 20 0 France 18–10 3575 Wales 37 0 France and Holland 20–10 26751 England and Wales 80 0 Italy and France 24–10 2515 England and Wales 19 0 Italy and France Italy, Belgium, Germany 29–10 Alda-K 2666 England and Wales 22 0 and France 29–10 Caroline 2621 England and Wales 32 0 Italy and France The sheep for the consignments listed above were certified within 48 hours prior to export. These consignments, apart from the sailing on 17 October which were fattening animals transported to a single holding, went to approved slaughterhouses. The animals which were rejected at certification remained in Great Britain.