§ Mr. Hancockasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why an action is being taken against the European Council in the European Court, case 131/86, as regards Directive 86/133/EEC on battery hen cages.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe Government are taking this action against the Council of Ministers because it considers that the directive was not adopted on the correct legal base in the treaty of Rome and in view of procedural irregularities in its adoption. The case has nothing to do with the animal welfare merits of the directive.