§ Mr. Corbettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will give the results of, and the Ministry's conclusion on, the experiment at Gleadthorpe experimental husbandry farm with getaway cages placed at the end of a laying battery cage house;
(2) whether he will give the latest results from the experiment at Gleadthorpe experimental husbandry farm with a poultry house modified for an aviary for laying stock; how the results compare with those of birds housed in battery cages; and what are the cost implications and differences;
(3) whether he will detail the results, and the Ministry's conclusions from them, of the establishment of an aviary system in Cheshire for two years from 1980;
(4) if he will detail the studies being undertaken by his Department into alternative systems of commercial egg production to battery units, giving details of how many birds of which breeds or strains are involved; how long the studies will take and at what cost; how many staff are involved; and at which experimental husbandry farms the work is being carried out.
§ Mrs. FennerOn most of the points raised by the hon. Member, I would refer him to the reports on the work at Gleadthorpe experimental husbandry farm which are published regularly. The latest report is contained in ADAS publication "Poultry Booklet No. 10" ISSN 0263–0575 (1983), and copies will be placed in the Library. I will write to the hon. Member about the remaining points.