HL Deb 27 July 1999 vol 604 c164WA
Baroness Nicol

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will set out the standards of service for the British Cattle Movement Service. [HL3840]

Lord Donoughue

The British Cattle Movement Service is making available its standards of service to organisations in the cattle industry and other groups with an interest. We have put a copy of the BCMS Citizen's Charter in the Library of the House.

BCMS is committed to issuing all cattle passports within 10 working days of receipt of a valid and complete passport application: and also to updating its database of cattle movements in all cases within 10 working days of receiving a valid and complete notification that an animal has moved. These are demanding standards, which I am confident BCMS will meet.

Copies of the BCMS Citizen's Charter will be sent to all cattle farmers in Great Britain later in the year.