§ Mr. CurryTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she will make of the impact on the competitiveness of the UK industry in relation to other EU egg producers in128W deciding whether to permit the enriched cage system of production under EU Welfare of Laying Hens Directive 1999/74/EC. [41491]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 8 March 2002]: English implementing legislation will permit all the systems of production detailed in the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive 99/74/EC. If changes are proposed there will be a full public consultation.
§ Mr. CurryTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has collated on which EU countries have indicated that they will(a) permit and (b) not permit the enriched cages system of egg production when the EU Welfare of Laying Hens Directive 1999/74/EC is introduced. [41492]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 8 March 2002]: No country is proposing an immediate ban on "enriched" cages. Germany proposes to ban them from 2012. Belgium and the Netherlands are considering following suit. As far as we are aware all other member states will permit "enriched" cages subject to a review of the directive in 2005.