§ Mr. Boris JohnsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government have taken to address the impact on animal welfare of farmers being unable to sell this year's light lamb crop as a result of the continuation of the export ban. [6340]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government have taken steps to avoid welfare problems being developed by lambs that have no market outlet—principally light lambs, nearly all of which go to the export trade. The livestock welfare disposal scheme has been extended to pre-empt a welfare situation developing among light lamb. £10 per lamb will be paid. It has to be clear to the farming industry that this is a one-off scheme—it will not be repeated next year—so decisions have to be based on that in terms of breeding plans for next year. Our priority is to ensure that we encourage as far as possible the sale of lambs into the food chain.
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has held with the Rural Affairs Secretary at the National Assembly concerning the likely trend in lamb prices during the autumn. [6316]
§ Mr. MorleyMinisters in this Department are in regular contact with their opposite numbers in the devolved Administrations on a wide range of topics, including the market prospects for lamb.
§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Government estimate, the buying up of lighter lambs will cost in(a) 2001 and (b) 2002 (i) in total and (ii) per lamb. [6660]
§ Mr. MorleyUnder the Light Lamb Scheme introduced from September 2001, the Government are prepared to pay £10 for the buying up of light lambs for which there is currently no export market because of the foot and mouth export ban. This could cost up to £25 million in purchase costs but estimates of uptake are uncertain. The scheme will not operate in 2002. We expect farmers to seek to sell lambs into the food chain as their first priority.