§ Mr. Owen PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the Government's policy to take decisions concerning the future of enriched cages at EU level. [77360]
§ Mr. MorleyCouncil Directive 99/74/EC laying down minimum standards for the welfare of laying hens has been implemented through the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000, as amended, which came into force on 25 June. Consistent with the Government's Strategy for Agriculture, the directive has been implemented without adding to it in any way.
However, we have carried out a three-month public consultation on the future of enriched cages. Responses to this consultation will form part of our consideration on whether "enriched" cages should continue to be permitted. That consideration will be guided by the available scientific evidence and the need to provide egg producers with the certainty they need to enable them to make long-term investment decisions.
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the potential change in employment in England as a result of a ban on the enriched laying cage.[77361]
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§ Mr. MorleyA partial regulatory impact assessment was included in the public consultation and will be considered again and revisited in the light of responses received.
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will publish the results of her Department's detailed assessment of the competition implications of the proposed ban on enriched laying cages; [77362]
(2) when she intends to make a decision on the future of enriched laying cages. [77363]
§ Mr. MorleyA partial regulatory impact assessment was included in the public consultation about a possible ban on enriched cages. The impact assessment will be looked at again in light of the responses received. A full regulatory impact assessment will be made available along with the results of the consultation.