§ Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of prosecutions and convictions of offenders against EEC egg regulations in respect of United Kingdom egg producers or sellers in the last year for which figures are available; and what are the comparable numbers of prosecutions and convictions in respect of egg producers and sellers in each other EEC country for the same period.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithIn the year ended 31 October 1980 there were three prosecutions taken by Agriculture Departments in the United Kingdom resulting in two convictions. Local authorities in the United Kingdom are not required to provide details of the prosecutions they take. Information provided by them on a voluntary basis indicates that there were nine convictions as a result of prosecutions taken by them.
The Community regulation requires member States to take appropriate measures to penalise infringements. It does not require them to inform the Commission or other member States of the number of prosecutions or convictions. Accordingly, I regret that I cannot provide the information requested.