§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the policy statements which he has made during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Community on the welfare of farm animals throughout the Community; and if he will make a statement. [44698]
§ Mr. MorleyMy right hon. Friend and I have repeatedly made clear during the presidency that the Government's policy is to press for new and revised EU measures to improve standards of farm animal welfare throughout the European Community. Under our660W presidency we have made considerable progress in resolving the long-standing deadlock on the proposed general Directive on the welfare of animals on farm. We have also prevailed on the European Commission to bring forward its overdue proposals on the welfare of laying hens, and have opened the negotiations on these without delay.