§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make120W available the communications, including notes of telephone conversations (a) between his Department centrally and regionally and the French authorities and (b) between Mr. Hugues Inizan of Plymouth and his Department centrally and regionally since 1 November 2000 concerning animal shipments by Mr. Inizan from the UK to France; [156427]
(2) if he will make available the communications, including notes of telephone conversations in his Department's (a) possession and (b) control between Mr. Hugues Inizan of Plymouth and the French authorities since 1 November 2000, concerning animal shipments by Mr. Inizan from the UK to France; [156426]
(3) if he will make available the communications between his Department and the French authorities since 1 November 2000 concerning compensation and indemnity for animals slaughtered in France originally emanating from Mr. Hugues Inizan of Plymouth; [156424]
(4) if he will make available, in relation to animals slaughtered in France emanating originally from Mr. Hugues Inizan of Plymouth, test results and allied papers in the (a) possession and (b) control of his Department's (i) centrally and (ii) regionally since 1 November 2000; [156428]
(5) under what certificates and permits Mr. Hugues Inizan of Plymouth was allowed to export sheep from the UK to France after 1 September 2000; and if he will publish this documentation; [156430]
(6) if he will make available the communications between Mr. Hugues Inizan of Plymouth and (a) his Department and (b) the French authorities since 1 November 2000 concerning compensation and indemnity for animals slaughtered in France originally emanating for Mr. Inizan; [156418]
(7) if he will make available the communications between Mr. Hugues Inizan of Plymouth and his insurers copied (a) direct to his Department and (b) indirectly via the French authorities since 1 November 2000, concerning compensation and indemnity for animals slaughtered in France originally emanating from Mr. Inizan; [156425]
(8) which of his Department's centres were responsible for the sheep exported from the UK by Mr. Hugues Inizan of Plymouth and subsequently slaughtered by the French authorities after 1 November 2000; [156429]
(9) if he will publish his Department's internal memoranda produced since 1 September 2000 concerning the shipments of sheep by Mr. Hugues Inizan of Plymouth from the UK to France on dates after 1 September 2000. [156431]
§ Ms Quin[holding answers 30 March 2001]We have no record of communications with the French authorities specifically about Mr. Inizan's export of sheep prior to the confirmed outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK on 21 February. We are aware that Mr. Inizan exported a consignment of 402 sheep to France on 1 February 2001. The sheep were exported under an export health certificate which was certified on 31 January and which conformed to harmonised EU rules for such trade. The export health certificate was issued by the local animal health office in Llanishen, Cardiff.
121WThe French authorities have now informed us that the seven samples that initially showed positive results have been re-tested with negative results. They have concluded that the initial serological positive reactions must be considered as false positives.
The Government cannot become involved in any contractual disputes between individual exporters and importers. However, the British Embassy in Paris has been actively pursuing the question of compensation, on behalf of British sheep exporters, for sheep slaughtered in France.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of sheep exported in the last year for which figures are available were exported to Greece; and what arrangements ere put in place to ensure that the journey complied with the requirements of Directives 91/628 (as amended) and the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order. [157887]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 10 April 2001]: 4,350 sheep were certified for export to Greece from the UK in 2000. This represents 0.69 per cent. of the total number of sheep certified for export during 2000.
Directive 91/628, as amended, is implemented by the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997, as amended. Consignments of animals to EU member states must be accompanied by a route plan and all route plans are subject to official scrutiny to ensure that the proposed journey complies with the statutory requirements for maximum journey times, rest, and feeding and watering intervals. The animals are inspected for health and fitness to travel before each journey starts. Additional monitoring of the condition of the animals and their transport is carried out at Dover port. Route plan.; must be returned within 15 days of the completion f the journey and details of the actual journey are then checked.