§ Mr. Hoosonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the proposals for legislating to permit "Do-It-Yourself Artificial Insemination" of cattle and the storage of semen on farms; and whether these representations have caused him to revise his proposals.
§ Mr. StrangSince last February, when I announced the decision in principle to permit "Do-It-Yourself Artificial Insemination" of cattle and on-farm storage of purchased semen within the existing AI network—[Vol. 906, c.359–60]—detailed legislative proposals to implement it have been widely circulated within the industry. A considerable number of constructive and helpful comments have been received from the organisations consulted, and these will be taken into account in finalising the new Regulations. Representations have also been made by the the Advisory Committees of three of the Milk Marketing Board's AI centres in Wales, requesting that the principle of permitted "Do-It-Yourself AI" be reconsidered. However, in view of the continued consensus of support for the proposals from within the industry, I see no reason why the decision taken last February, based as it was on a 773W balanced judgment of both sides of the argument, should now be varied.