§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Fisheries and Food what approaches he has made to the Government of EU member states to secure the same legislation in those states with regard to the prohibition of veal crates as is currently the case in the United Kingdom; if he has raised this matter within the Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. BrowningI have been asked to reply.
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has been pressing hard for the abolition of the close confinement veal crate system across the Community. He raised the issue in the Agriculture Council on 23 January and again on 20 and 21 February and, with the support of many other member states, has secured the advancement to this year of the review of the current EU rules on welfare of calves. I have undertaken a programme of visits to EU capitals to enlist support for a Community-wide ban. Reactions to my visits have been most encouraging.