§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will ensure that embryotomy is carried out only on dead lambs; [16504]
(2) if he will ensure that only qualified veterinary surgeons trained in the technique carry out trans-cervical artificial insemination in sheep; [16503]
(3) if he will prohibit combined castration and tail docking of lambs less than 24 hours old. [16507]
§ Mrs. BrowningThe Government response to the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of sheep made it clear that we agree with these points. We intend to address them in the revised welfare code on sheep which is currently in preparation.
§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will ensure that tail docking of lambs over the age of six weeks is carried out only by a veterinary surgeon for therapeutic purposes under anaesthetic; [16506]
(2) if he will ensure that surgical castration of lambs is performed only when the lambs are under anaesthetic by a veterinary surgeon. [16505]
§ Mrs. BrowningWe made it clear in our detailed response to the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of sheep that, in the absence of conclusive scientific evidence as to the best way forward, we thought it inappropriate to make changes to current legislation on tail docking and castration. We are funding further research and will review the position in the light of the results.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many holdings on which sheep are kept in England and Wales are registered with MAFF; and how many of those have been allocated with a flockmark in accordance with article 3 of the Sheep and Goats (Identification, Movement and Records) Order 1996. [16687]
658W
§ Mrs. BrowningA total of 70,742 holdings on which sheep are kept in England and Wales have been registered with MAFF under the terms of article 3 of the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1996. They have all been allocated with a flock mark.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many consignments of sheep for slaughter have been exported from the United Kingdom to the Republic of Ireland since 1 January; and in each case which ferry route was declared in the journey plan. [16684]
§ Mrs. BrowningSince 1 January 1997 there have been two consignments of sheep exported from Britain to the Irish Republic for slaughter. The transporter declared that the Cairnryan to Larne ferry crossing would be used.