§ Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will now introduce legislation to implement the provisions of the Livestock Export Control Bill, introduced by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South in August, 1966;
(2) what representations he is making to the Governments concerned in the light of the evidence set out in the Report. dated 1st May. 1972, by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a copy of which is in his possession, to ensure that the Balfour Agreements concerning the transit and feeding of live animals exported from Great Britain are implemented in Belgium and France;
(3) if, in view of the Balfour Agreements, he will discuss with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals the evidence in the Society's Report, dated 1st May, 1972, a copy of which is in his possession, concerning poor transport and lack of feeding and watering of animals exported from the United Kingdom to the Continent and methods of avoiding such cruelty in the future;
(4) what representations he has made to the European Economic Community authorities about the non-compliance with the Balfour Aereements and the ill treatment inflicted on live animals exported from Great Britain.
§ Mr. Peter Mills:The RSPCA report has not yet reached my right hon. Friend He will wish to examine it thoroughly before coming to any decision about future action.
221WThe Balfour Assurances are bilateral agreements with the Governments of certain European countries and it would not be appropriate to make representations about them to the EEC. Questions of non-compliance are referred to the countries concerned.