§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the total number of animals involved in factory farming on 1st October 1976.
§ Mr. StrangA broad estimate of the number of farm livestock kept under intensive husbandry systems in England and Wales on 1st June 1976, the latest date for which figures on which to base an estimate are available, is as follows:
Cattle reared for slaughter at under 14 months 200,000 Pigs 6,500,000 Poultry 100,500,000
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will arrange for his Department to conduct a survey to establish the total number of animals killed in factory farm fires during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StrangStatistics of fires are the responsibility of the Home Office. I understand that intensive livestock units are not separately identifiable in the Home Office fire statistics, and that information on the total number of animals killed in fires on farms generally could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.