§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to reduce the use of antibiotics in farming. [41615]
§ Mr. RookerWe take this matter very seriously and are considering very carefully the recent reports of the Select Committee on Agriculture and the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology.
As with all such matters, our policy will be based on the best available scientific advice. The independent scientific Veterinary Products Committee will be considering the use of antibiotics in animal production at its meeting on 18 June, and the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food is expected to report later in the year.
I invited the noble Lord who chairs the House of Lords Select Committee, Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, to meet me and officials for a preliminary discussion a few days after the report was published. We had a useful discussion.