HC Deb 21 November 1972 vol 846 c328W
43 and 63. Miss Holt

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether, having regard to the 55 major outbreaks of fire in intensive units last year in addition to a number of small fires, he will introduce statutory regulations making night watchmen compulsory where housed stock is left unattended overnight;

(2) whether, in view of the number of outbreaks of fire in intensive units in 1971, he will introduce statutory regulations requiring everyone keeping livestock to have a licence and all stock buildings to be of approved standard with adequate fire precautions and alarms.

Mrs. Fenner

No, I do not consider that it would be either desirable or practicable to enforce such requirements. The Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee has the need for the mandatory provision of fire precautions and alarms under consideration, and I shall carefully consider any advice I receive from it.