§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to secure agreement throughout the European Economic Community on a common programme of legislation for farm animal welfare.
§ Mrs. FennerThere is a programme. Two directives on the international transport of animals have been agreed and work by the European Community Commission on various related issues is in progress. The Council of Agriculture Ministers is actively considering proposals for a directive on minimum standards for laying hens kept in battery cages. The European Community Commission is beginning work on possible legislation for calves whilst, by agreement, the standing committee under the Council of Europe's convention on the protection of animals kept for farming purposes, having completed a draft recommendation on laying hens, has turned its consideration to pigs.