Veal Crate Rearing

HC Deb 19 May 1992 vol 208 cc118-9W

Ms. Walley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to the ban on veal crate rearing, what steps he will take to end the shipment of calves to Holland for the purpose of veal crate rearing; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Soames

Legal advice is that a ban on the export of calves to Community countries would be illegal under the treaty of Rome. Our objective is for welfare rules to be introduced in the Community which reflect the high standards in the United Kingdom.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number of calves shipped to the continent in 1991–92 for the purpose of veal crate rearing.

Mr. Soames

In the 12 months, April 1991 to March 1992, a total of 412,803 calves intended for further fattening were exported from Great Britain to the Continent. It is not possible to determine how many of these were for rearing in veal crates.