§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to persuade the European Commission to phase out veal crates earlier than the time scale provisionally set. [16833]
§ Mrs. BrowningThe Commission presented its proposals for phasing out the close confinement veal crate to the Council of Agriculture Ministers earlier this week. We made it clear in the preliminary discussions that the 12-year lead-in period is too long and we will continue to press hard for an early end to the close confinement veal crate and its associated dietary regime throughout Europe.