HC Deb 31 January 1997 vol 289 cc405-6W
Mr. Morley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) sheep, (b) calves and (c) pigs were rejected as unfit to travel prior to export from the United Kingdom in each month of 1996. [13542]

Mrs. Browning

The numbers of animals rejected as unfit to travel from Great Britain were as follows:

Ovine Bovine Porcine
January 471 103 128
February 204 251 60
March 131 28 69
April 0 0 80
May 1 0 71
June 14 4 27
Ovine Bovine Porcine
July 379 7 62
August 574 0 27
September 608 0 42
October 410 0 130
November 547 1 20
December 390 2 55

Mr. Morley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who takes legal responsibility for unaccompanied consignments of livestock that are ferried from Dover port from the time a driver leaves his consignment of livestock at Dover port to the time he rejoins his vehicle at the continental port of arrival. [13545]

Mrs. Browning

None of the consignments referred to are unaccompanied.

Mr. Morley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) in cases where consignments of livestock cannot be accompanied by their driver during the sea crossing from Dover to continental ports, what steps he takes to ensure that the person in charge of the animals during the journey is declared in accordance with articles 7 or 8 of the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1994; [13546]

(2) when unaccompanied vehicles containing livestock are permitted to leave the port of Dover on the MV Cap Afrique, what steps he takes to ensure that the animals' journey is not delayed because of the absence of drivers at the port of arrival. [13547]

Mrs. Browning

The operators of the Cap Afrique employ a competent stockman who takes responsibility for animals which are not accompanied by their drivers. The cross-channel travel arrangements for the drivers who cannot be taken on the Cap Afrique are such that they should arrive in time to meet the vessel at the port of destination.

Mr. Morley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food where on the MV Cap Afrique provision has been made for isolation of ill or injured animals during the voyage. [13548]

Mrs. Browning

The Department is not of the view that point 18 of schedule 3 to the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1994 concerning provision of facilities for isolation of ill or injured animals during the voyage applies when animals are being carried on a roll-on/roll-off ferry.