§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 9 March,Official Report, column 329, what information he has on the number of calves exported from Coventry airport in each of the last two years and the number of times flights have been delayed; and how often during that period officials have used their powers to ensure calves do not go for longer than 15 hours from the start of their journey without being fed and rested. [15166]
§ Mrs. BrowningA total of 20,213 calves were exported from Coventry airport in 1994. The number of calves exported by this route in the current year so far, to 20 March, is 6,873.
Delays long enough to compromise the 15-hour journey time on flights from Coventry airport occurred on 7 and 8 December because of bad weather—one flight on each date—and on 3 February, when the activities of protesters affected three flights. On each of these occasions calves that had arrived at the airport had to be returned to their premises of origin. In one instance on 3 February, the calves which were delayed at the airport would have exceeded the 15-hour statutory period in returning to their premises of origin. The calves were therefore returned under a notice requiring their feeding immediately on arrival at the home premises. The other journeys of calves returning to their premises of origin could be completed before expiry of the 15 hours, and so notices did not need to be served by officials.