§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to maintain minimum values below which the export of horses and ponies is forbidden after 1992; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanThe system of minimum values designed to prevent the export of horses for slaughter is a purely national arrangement. As part of the single market programme the Commission has made a proposal for a community regulation on the protection of animals during transport and as drafted this makes no provision for our controls on horse exports to continue. Whilst I can hold out no hope that other member states will be persuaded to apply the minimum value arrangements throughout the Community, our objective will be to ensure that there will be adequate welfare standards during all journeys and that these are implemented and enforced rigorously throughout the Community to protect horses and ponies.