HC Deb 07 November 2002 vol 392 cc563-5W
Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will support the European Commission's proposal that financial assistance should be given to farmers to help them adopt higher animal welfare systems. [77687]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 30 October 2002]: As a European leader in the animal welfare field, the UK supports the principle of encouraging adoption of higher welfare standards through financial assistance. However, we will need to be careful that any system adopted is workable and fair, and that it is compatible with World Trade Organisation rules.

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will support the European Commission's proposal to link the payment of Common Agricultural Policy subsidies to farmers with their compliance with animal welfare laws; and if she will make a statement. [77688]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 30 October 2002]: The Government supports the principle of the European Commission's proposal to decouple support from production and create a single income payment linked to compliance with animal welfare, environment and food and occupational safety standards. There has only been limited discussion on this aspect of the proposals so far and more clarification is needed, as the details will be important to the effectiveness of this proposal.

Ann Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the welfare of milking cows. [80040]

Mr. Morley

There is legislation in place to protect the welfare of dairy cows. The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000 sets down general welfare requirements for all farmed animals, including some detailed requirements for cattle. There is also a specific welfare code on cattle. This is currently being updated and the revised code will include a separate section devoted to the welfare of dairy cattle.

Mr. Prosser

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many(a) live sheep and (b) live pigs have been exported from the United Kingdom to date in 2002 for (i) slaughter, (ii) further fattening and (iii) breeding; and how many (A) sheep and (B) pigs in each of these categories were exported to each individual country of destination. [77508]

Mr. Morley

The total number of live sheep and live pigs certified for export from the United Kingdom between 1 January 2002 and 1 November 2002 for slaughter, fattening and breeding are shown in the following tables.

Country of destination Live Sheep Slaughter Fattening Breeding
Austria 0 0 22
Belgium 0 0 4
France 49,476 3,040 158
Germany 4,129 0 5
Isle of Man 0 0 11
Italy 29,244 0 0
Netherlands 456 0 55
Republic of Ireland 166,865 385 92
Totals 250,170 3,425 347

Country of destination Live Pigs Slaughter Fattening Breeding
Belgium 0 0 3,888
Denmark 0 0 47
France 0 0 47
Germany 0 0 3,628
Greece 0 0 171
Isle of Man 0 0 71
Italy 0 0 1,194
Netherlands 0 0 9,038
Philippines 0 0 75
Poland 0 0 701
Spain 0 0 1,607
Republic of Ireland 20,951 0 22
Totals 20,951 0 20,489

Mr. Prosser

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many live sheep were exported from Dover to continental Europe on(a) 17 October, (b) 18 October, (c) 20 October and (d) 24 October; when and where health certification was carried out in respect of the sheep; how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey (i) during inspection for health certification purposes and (ii) at Dover docks, and to where those sheep were taken; and what the address was of the final destination on the route plan for each of the consignments; [78620]

(2) how many live sheep were exported from Dover to continental Europe on the (a) Alda-K, and (b) Caroline to Continental Europe on the 29 October; when and where health certification was carried out in respect of the sheep; how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey (i) during inspection for health certification purposes and (ii) at Dover docks, and to where those sheep were taken; and what the address was of the final destination on the route plan for each of the consignments. [79005]

Mr. Morley

The information requested is as follows:

Date Total animals Where consignments were certified Animals rejected at certification Animals rejected at Dover docks Destination
17–10 3000 England, Scotland and Wales 20 0 France
18–10 3575 Wales 37 0 France and Holland
20–10 26751 England and Wales 80 0 Italy and France
24–10 2515 England and Wales 19 0 Italy and France
Italy, Belgium, Germany
29–10 Alda-K 2666 England and Wales 22 0 and France
29–10 Caroline 2621 England and Wales 32 0 Italy and France

The sheep for the consignments listed above were certified within 48 hours prior to export. These consignments, apart from the sailing on 17 October which were fattening animals transported to a single holding, went to approved slaughterhouses. The animals which were rejected at certification remained in Great Britain.