§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in respect of implementation of the Burns report and banning hunting with hounds, what estimate he has made of the cost of disposing of fallen and other stock. [129126]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 6 July 2000]: A small and limited survey, carried out by MAFF, suggested that in 1999 around 40 per cent. of calves, 32 per cent. of adult bovines and 15 per cent. of sheep were disposed of to hunt kennels. No estimate has been made of the cost to the livestock industry of using outlets other than hunt kennels to dispose of carcases. However, the safe disposal of fallen stock in an important issue and officials will continue to liaise with the livestock and disposal industries to examine the best approaches to this issue.