§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how his Department intends to liaise with the European Community Commission's mouse care expert;
(2) whether he was consulted on the European Community Commission's proposal to appoint a mouse care expert to raise the productivity of the European Community market on mice and rats; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThere is no proposal to appoint a European mouse care expert. I assume that the hon. Member must be referring to a proposal for a Council regulation on animal health conditions governing trade in rodents. These proposals are of real concern as they are relevant to Her Majesty's Government's fight against rabies and if adopted will require staff resources to be devoted to ensuring that its requirements are being fulfilled. The Government's assessment of it was set out in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's explanatory memorandum 9715/89 of 27 November 1989 a copy of which is in the Library of the House.