§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his Department's response to the practice of using staging posts to facilitate the transport of live exported lambs across Europe.
(2) if he has any plans to limit the length of time permitted for lambs to spend in transit immediately prior to slaughter;
(3) what representations he has received calling for the maximum travelling time for lambs prior to slaughter to be limited to 12 hours.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonOver the years my Department has received a number of representations calling for maximum travelling times for live food animals to be limited to 12 hours. However EC legislation requires that animals in international transport, should be offered food and water at suitable intervals and should not be left more than 24 hours without being fed and watered. Staging posts exist to fulfil this requirement, and my Department seeks to ensure that they are used on long journeys. The Commission is expected to propose a new regulation on welfare in transit shortly, and meanwhile I have no plans to introduce new measures.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he is taking to encourage the slaughter of lambs prior to export to the countries of the southern European Economic Community;
(2) what is his Department's response to the increasing practice of transporting live lambs considerable distances across Europe prior to slaughter;
(3) if he will raise at the next Council of Ministers the increasing practice of transporting live lambs across Europe prior to slaughter;
(4) whether his Department plans to take steps to encourage the slaughter of lambs for export as close to the farm of origin as possible.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonSheep and lambs have been exported to other member states of the Community for slaughter for many years. Provided that United Kingdom and EC welfare legislation is complied with, I see no need to interfere with this trade.