§ 24. Mr. Jacques ArnoldTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the welfare of horses and ponies subject to export after 1992.
§ Mr. GummerI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Butler).
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what time limit has been set on the derogation to Britain of the ban on the export of live horses to the continent for slaughter; if he will make a statement on the conditions relating to the agreement; and when he envisages the matter being raised again in Community negotiations.
§ Mr. MacleanThe directive concerning the welfare of animals during transport provides for national arrangements on horses to continue without specifying a time limit. It also establishes that the Council, acting on proposals from the commission, will adopt additional conditions for all transport of horses in the Community in order to safeguard their welfare. No timetable is set for these additional rules and it is not known when the Community will address the issue.