§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what statutory changes would be required to effect a ban on mink farming. [35025]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government's position on fur farming is that they remain committed to implementing their pre-election pledge to end fur farming as soon as practicable. Last year, we reviewed the various options available to prohibit the keeping of mink and other species for fur and a public consultation letter seeking comments on the way we proposed to proceed was issued on 5 August 1997. The public consultation period has now ended and we are currently considering how the intention 541W to prohibit fur farming can best be implemented. An announcement will be made once we have decided how to proceed. There would be public consultation on any proposals for legislation to ban fur farming.