§ Mr. Hancockasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to bring forward legislation on the export of live animals from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerI have no such plans.
There is already extensive legislation to protect the welfare of animals for export, which implements requirements laid down in Community directives. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him yesterday, at column 511, in which I described some of these statutory provisions.
§ Mr. Hancockasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response he is making to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals report on the international transportation of live animals, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he plans any action in the light of it.
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§ Mrs. FennerThe society has sent me a copy of the report which it has presented to the EC Commission. I have advised the RSPCA that since it has placed the matter in the hands of the Commission, I propose to await the Commission's comments before commenting on the report. We will continue to implement the provisions of the Community directives protecting the welfare of animals in international transit. The society will know from meetings with me last summer and other extensive contacts with the Ministry that I do not accept its view either that we are failing to implement our Community obligations on exports, or that the society's trails of calf consignments have shown evidence of unnecessary suffering to the animals involved.