§ Mr. Murphyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received regarding battery farming; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerWe continue to receive representations from a wide range of interests on all aspects of intensive farming. The Government set out their policy on the welfare of intensively farmed animals, in their White Paper response8—Cmnd. 8451: December 1981—to the Agriculture Committee's report on animal welfare in168W poultry, pig and veal calf production. Following advice from the Farm Animal Welfare Council, the Agriculture Ministers hope to lay before Parliament shortly proposals for revisions to the welfare codes of recommendations for cattle and pigs, together with proposals for further legislation on mutilations of farm animals. In addition we are currently considering the results of recent consultations on proposals for changes to the codes on domestic fowls and turkeys put forward by the council. We continue to press for a Community directive on hen battery cages along the lines indicated in the House on 17 November 1981.