HL Deb 30 April 2002 vol 634 c96WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the debate on the livestock industry on 17 April (HL Deb, cols. 944–984), what is the timetable for the working party established by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to look into the illegal import of meat into the United Kingdom; and when their findings will be published. [HL3898]

Lord Whitty

Following a meeting of stakeholders chaired by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State, the Government published an action plan on 28 March the aim of which is to reduce the risk of exotic disease entering the country and then threatening the health of susceptible livestock. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

The plan covers a number of areas which are being developed to different timetables. This involves interchange and co-operation across government and with external interests, but no formal working party has been established.