HL Deb 11 May 2001 vol 625 c245WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman on 28 March (WA 41) concerning their policy towards, and monitoring of, the transport of live animals, whether:

  1. (a) there is a distinction between monitoring and policy;
  2. (b) what is their policy towards monitoring;
  3. (c) what is the number of people employed in the Animal Welfare Division on policy duties; and
  4. (d) whether the number of people employed in both their monitoring and policy units has changed since 1997. [HL1530]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman)

(a) Policy includes negotiating, developing and implementing improved rules on welfare during transport in the European Union and in domestic legislation. A dedicated team in Animal Welfare Division is responsible for the monitoring of the operation and enforcementof these rules. They work in close liaison.

(b) Monitoring of enforcement and compliance is an important part of the Government's twin-track policy of strict enforcement while encouraging the development of improved rules on a EU-wide basis. Monitoring of the rules on welfare during transport is best carried out by the State Veterinary Service and local authorities, which have the day to day responsibility for enforcement. The operations team in Animal Welfare Division maintains the database on transporter authorisations, checks that all new routes can comply with the law and arranges non-discriminatory checks on animals in co-operation with other member states.

(c) Animal Welfare Division is responsible for animal welfare on farm, during transport, at markets and at slaughter. There are currently 34.6 staff employed on policy duties in these areas.

The number of staff in Animal Welfare Division has increased by 4.6 persons to 42.6 since 1997; six are employed on operational duties related to animal welfare during transport. An Enforcement Liaison Officer has been appointed to develop day to day Working relations between the department and local authorities, which have primary responsibility for enforcement.