§ Mr. ProsserTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the adequacy of his powers in relation to animal welfare to prevent livestock vessels from sailing in rough weather conditions; and if he will make a statement. [77946]
§ Mr. MorleyThe provisions of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 (which implements, in Great Britain, Directive 91/628/EEC, as amended) provide extensive protection for animals in transit. In the case of bad weather at sea, a master of a vessel must not, under Article 4, transport animals if, in his judgment, they are likely to be caused injury or unnecessary suffering due to adverse weather or sea conditions likely to be encountered during the voyage. Under Article 18, if a MAFF or Local Authority Inspector considers that animals are being transported or are about to be transported in a way likely to cause injury or unnecessary suffering, he or she may prohibit that transport. MAFF officials have on occasion accompanied livestock when they are transported from Dover in rougher weather conditions, in order to gather information on how the animals travel: these trips have not to date revealed any evidence to indicate that animals' welfare has been adversely affected.