HC Deb 17 June 1996 vol 279 c372W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the policy of the United Kingdom Government on safeguarding the welfare of animals being exported to third countries. [32327]

Mrs. Browning

We have a long standing policy of permitting the export of food animals only to those countries with standards at least equivalent to those in force within the European Union on the protection of animals during transport and at slaughter.

Mr. Morley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response he has received from the Dutch Government in respect of transportation of sheep from the Netherlands on 12 to 16 August 1995 and 5 to 7 September 1995; if he will(a) list and (b) make available the representations he has received on this subject; and what action the Dutch Government have reported to him that they have taken. [32098]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 10 June 1996]: The details are still under consideration in the Netherlands. We receive many representations about the transport of animals, but records are not kept separately on the number in every category.