§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) dead and (b) recumbent animals have been delivered to the Halal Meat Company in Birmingham in each of the last 12 months; what was the country of origin of those animals; and how many prosecutions are being brought in respect of those animals which were deemed unfit for transit.
§ Mr. SoamesThe information requested is set out in the table. The figures are indicative of the problems of handling this category of sheep. Prosecutions are a matter for the local authorities concerned; I understand that none is pending in respect of animals which were deemed unfit for transport.
477W
Dead in transit and down in transit sheep Birmingham Halal slaughterhouses Month and origin Dead Recumbent 1993 April—Local 20 38 May—Wales and Local 15 30 June—Wales and Local 18 28 July—Wales and Local 16 20 August—Wales, Scotland and Local 10 15 September—Wales, Scotland and Local 12 18 October—Wales, Scotland and Local 16 20 November—Wales, Scotland and Local 10 21 December—Wales and Scotland 7 19 1994 January—Wales and Local 12 44 February—Local 11 33 March—2 Irish, 1 Polish, 2 Spanish, 30 Local 13 35 1994 April to 26 April—Local 18 31 Notes:
1. Total annual throughput approximately 36,000 sheep.
2. 'Dead in Transit' includes some that arrived alive but died overnight in lairage.
3. 'Recumbent' includes some which walked off the lorry but collapsed overnight.