§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what studies have been carried out over the last 10 years by the state veterinary service or the Farm Animal Welfare Committee into the practice of embryotomy; and if he will make a statement;
395W(2) further to his answer of 22 April to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin), Official Report, column 196, what statistics he has as to the number of embryotomies carried out during the lambing season in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesAs explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 22 April, I am not aware of any evidence that embryotomy is carried out on live unborn lambs. The matter will however be considered by the Farm Animal Welfare Council during its current review of sheep farming.