§ Ms. Glenda JacksonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will prohibit the keeping of mink and fox in fur factory farms on expiry of the Mink Keeping Order 1987.
§ Mr. SoamesAgriculture departments issue licences under the Mink (Keeping) Order 1987 to establishments keeping mink under secure conditions, as set out in the Mink (Keeping) Regulations 1975, as amended. The purpose of the order is to prevent the escape of mink into the wild, where they would be destructive pests, and not to regulate fur-farming practices. No similar order exists to place security requirements on the keeping of foxes. The Mink (Keeping) Order expires on 31 December 1992 and a consultation exercise will take place this summer to seek the views of interested organisations on future arrangements for the secure keeping of mink and any possible extension of the controls to other species.