§ Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whether he has any plans to seek to update the legislation on the welfare of animals in transit.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonYes. The Government are aware that a large number of interested parties have suggested that the many orders on the welfare of animals in transit should be modernised and simplified. The Farm Animal Welfare council has asked whether the Government are willing to take on this task and we have told it that we shall indeed be doing so.
It is envisaged that the legislation would be rationalised in stages beginning with new orders on the carriage of live poultry by all methods of transport and the carriage by water of all farm livestock and horses. We would then amend and/or consolidate the Transport of Animals (Road and Rail) Order 1975. Finally we would consider what scope there was for rationalising the legislation on the protection of farm animals and horses on export. Interested organisations would of course be consulted in the normal way on each stage of the excercise.