§ Mr. ProsserTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what inspections her officials have made of the motor vessel Kalifeh 1 to assess its suitability for the transport of live farm animals; when inspections were made; what the outcome was of the inspections; and what such inspections her officials will conduct. [65406]
§ Mr. MorleyThe vessel my Kalifeh 1 has been inspected twice by DEFRA officials to assess its suitability for the transport of live animals
September 2001—Preliminary partial inspection at the request of and in conjunction with officials from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern Ireland, found some modification and repair was required in order to comply with legislative requirementsApril 2002—Joint inspection with representatives of the French veterinary authority found that it was in compliance with EU and GB animal welfare in transport legislation.The vessel was also inspected by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern Ireland before it was allowed to transport sheep from Northern Ireland in December 2001.
375WAll specialist livestock vessels are inspected for their suitability to transport animals prior to the first transport of animals from GB. Additional spot checks are made as appropriate to the continued use of the vessel.