§ Mr. Wallerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the extent of compliance with the Government' code of recommendations for the welfare of pigs, with the speific reference to the use of alternatives to cage and stalls.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe code of recommendations for the welfare of pigs discourages the use of cages and stalls. Whilst caged systems are rarely used, a pig management survey carried out in 1985 by the Meat and Livestock Commission suggested that some 52 per cent. of sows in the larger pig holdings were kept in stalls or on tethers. I believe within the industry there is now a growing interest in alternatives to these systems.