§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 18 February,Official Report, columns 1056–58, if she will make a statement on (a) the response of delegates attending the continental challenge conference to the campaign on continental market opportunities, (b) the assessment of improvements in animal welfare monitored by veterinary officers and animal health inspectors, (c) the qualitative measurement of the plant health campaign, (d) the responses to the small producers of food campaign and (e) the qualitative assessment of the warble fly campaign.
§ Mr. Jack(a) One hundred and sixty delegates attended the conference to launch "The Continental Challenge". Evaluation will take place throughout the course of the campaign, which runs throughout the year.
(b) The Government have a continuing policy of seeking improvements for the welfare of farm animals. Nearly 160,000 leaflets dealing with animal welfare issues have been distributed in the current year. No data are collected centrally about the transport of casualty animals or heat stress in farm animals. However, the Government are satisfied that the advice offered will contribute to a better understanding of animals' needs in circumstances where unnecessary suffering might otherwise occur.
(c) From its contacts with commercial growers and the general public, the plant health and seeds inspectorate considers that the plant health campaign has been effective in achieving its objective of raising awareness of the requirements of the single market.
(d) The primary objective of the small producers of food booklet was to provide advice to small businesses on sources of help available. Some 30,000 booklets have been distributed and, of those who have chosen to comment, nearly all have said that they found it helpful.
(e) Monitoring of the warble fly campaign is still taking place but early indications are that it has been successful.