Egg Industry (Hansard, 1 July 2002)

§ Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulatory impact assessment regarding costs to the egg industry has been made by her Department in the event of enriched cages being phased out before 2012. [65227]

§ Mr. Morley
A partial regulatory impact assessment on the effect of banning enriched cages from 2012 is being prepared and will form part of the public consultation exercise.

§ Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether enriched cages for the egg industry will be allowed to operate until 2012. [65229]

§ Mr. Morley
Yes. The forthcoming public consultation will be on a proposal to ban enriched cages from 2012.

§ Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the research will be completed into bird welfare and bird behavioural aspects of enriched cages. [652281

§ Mr. Morley
Research into systems of production is always ongoing. A specific DEFRA funded project on enriched cages will finish at the end of October 2003.
76W

§ Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the statement of the Under-Secretary of State,Official Report, Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, 12 June 2002, c. 22, on the timescale for the operation of enriched cages if she will make a statement on the phasing out of enriched cages: and when the policy was decided. [65231]

§ Mr. Morley
A public consultation will start shortly on a proposal to ban enriched cages from 2012.