§ 57. Mr. Ronald Atkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food what plans he has for reducing the suffering caused to animals from farm fires.
§ Mr. BishopThis subject has been studied by our Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and the livestock welfare codes contain recommendations on fire prevention. Advice is readily available from my Department and from fire authorities. Proper standards of fire protection are a condition of Ministry grant towards the cost of any new livestock building. My officers are assisting in the preparation of a British Standards Institution Code of Practice.
§ Mr. Ronald Atkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if 231W he will state the numbers of poultry destroyed in farm fires during the last year for which figures are available compared with the figures for the previous year;
(2) if he will state the number of pigs destroyed in farm fires during the last year for which figures are available compared with the figures for the previous year;
(3) if he will state the number of cattle destroyed in farm fires during the last year for which figures are available compared with the figures for the previous year.
§ Mr. BishopThe following table shows for 1970 and 1972, the latest years for which figures are available, estimates of poultry, pigs and cattle reported killed or severely injured in farm fires in animal sheds in the United Kingdom.
1970 (see note) 1972 Poultry 191,289 149,773 Pigs 3,401 3,777 Cattle 124 453 Note: In 1970 an additional 22 cases resulting in 1,416 unspecified livestock being killed or injured were also reported.