§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the main findings of the EC scientific veterinary committee report on hen welfare; and if he will make it his policy to advocate the phasing out of battery cages.
§ Mr. SoamesWe await the official publication of the scientific veterinary committee's report, together with the Commission's proposals for revision of the battery hens directive and new welfare standards for hens kept in alternative systems.
It is already the Government's policy that the current battery cage design, in which only feeding and drinking facilities are provided, must be phased out on a Community basis.