HC Deb 19 October 1998 vol 317 cc1062-3W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made at the British Cattle Movement Service since the launch of the computerised Cattle Tracing System for Great Britain on 28 September. [55676]

Mr. Rooker

The British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) launched the new Cattle Tracing System for Great Britain on 28 September 1998. As of 14 October, the BCMS has issued 120,666 passports and processed 26,520 notifications of cattle movements. The BCMS has also dealt with over 50,000 calls to the local call rate Helpline since it opened on 1 July 1998.

Passport production peaked on 10 October when 23,747 passports were issued. The busiest day for the Helpline was 29 September when 1,914 calls were received.