§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the implications for farmers of delays in the start-up of the fallen stock collection service; and what arrangement she has put in place to exempt farmers from possible prosecution under the EU directive on prevention of burying deadstock. [159404]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 5 March 2004]:The ban on burial has been in place since 1 May 2003 and, as we made clear then, we expect farmers to use existing approved outlets such as knacker yards, hunt kennels, maggot farms, rendering facilities or incineration plants for disposal of their fallen stock. However, we have asked local authorities to take a pragmatic approach to enforcement where farmers have made every effort to dispose of their fallen stock via these outlets but are genuinely unable to comply.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people signed up to the fallen stock collection scheme, broken down by region. [159405]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 5 March 2004 ]:There has been no invitation to farmers to sign up to the National Fallen Stock Scheme. Initial expressions of interest in joining the scheme were sought from farmers last year.