Fur Farms (Hansard, 27 July 1993)

§ Mr. Milburn
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in each of the last five years officers of ADAS have visited mink and Arctic Fox fur farms.

§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard
Responsibility for this matter is delegated to ADAS and I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Gentleman direct.
Letter from Dr. J. M. Walsh to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 28 July 1993:
In answer to your question, according to our records in each of the last five years ADAS undertook the following visits on behalf of MAFF.

1988 27

1989 31

1990 26

1991 19

1992 17
Over this period ADAS also undertook a small number (approximately 6) of fee paid consultancy visits to mink farms.
ADAS became an Executive Agency on 1 April 1992. The visits on behalf of MAFF are now carried out under a contract with the MAFF Policy Division. As a contracting organisation, it not our normal practice to disclose information relating to the contracts we undertake. Could I suggest that further enquiries should be directed to the Customer Group within MAFF.

§ Mr. Milburn
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) on how many occasions in the last five years officials of the state veterinary service have advised mink fur farmers to improve the conditions in which the animals are being held in order to avoid prosecution; and if he will give details;
(2) on how many occasions in the last five years officials of the state veterinary service had advised Arctic fox fur farmers to improve the conditions in which the animals are being held in order to avoid prosecution; and if he will give details.

§ Mr. Soames
In monitoring welfare standards on fur farms, the state veterinary service operates to the guidelines laid down in the relevant recommendations adopted by the Council of Europe. Were conditions to be found which warranted immediate prosecution, we would

EC Sugar quotas and production 1991–92

'000 tonnes white sugar equivalent

Member State Quota Non-quota 'C' sugar production 1991–92⁴ Total production 1991–92¹ 1991–92 consumption Difference between total production and consumption

'A' quota 'B' quota

France² 2,996 806 740 4,387 2,082 2,305

Denmark 328 97 43 468 222 246

Belgium/Luxembourg 680 146 66 892 455 437

Ireland 182 18 13 213 124 89

Netherlands 690 182 174 1,046 582 464

Germany 2,638 811 460 3,909 2,865 1,044

United Kingdom 1,040 104 72 2,346 2,280 66

Italy 1,320 248 — 1,509 1,606 -97

Greece 290 29 — 273 333 -60

884W
not hesitate to take such action. Centrally held records on the welfare inspections of fur farms date from 1990 and written advice on improvements was given in one case.

§ Mr. Milburn
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the number of mink farms over the past 10 years.

§ Mr. Soames
Information is only readily available for the last five years. No mink farms have been licensed during this time in Wales. Information with regards to England is as follows:

Number

As at 31 March 1989 52

As at 20 February 1990 43

As at 20 February 1991 25

As at 12 March 1992 25

As at 20 July 1993 13

EC Sugar quotas and production 1991–92
			'000 tonnes white sugar equivalent
Member State	Quota	Non-quota 'C' sugar production 1991–92⁴	Total production 1991–92¹	1991–92 consumption	Difference between total production and consumption
'A' quota	'B' quota
France²	2,996	806	740	4,387	2,082	2,305
Denmark	328	97	43	468	222	246
Belgium/Luxembourg	680	146	66	892	455	437
Ireland	182	18	13	213	124	89
Netherlands	690	182	174	1,046	582	464
Germany	2,638	811	460	3,909	2,865	1,044
United Kingdom	1,040	104	72	2,346	2,280	66
Italy	1,320	248	—	1,509	1,606	-97
Greece	290	29	—	273	333	-60

Number
As at 31 March 1989	52
As at 20 February 1990	43
As at 20 February 1991	25
As at 12 March 1992	25
As at 20 July 1993	13