§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will undertake not to make a decision on the future of enriched egg laying cages until after the results of her Department's funded research have been published. [73121]
§ Mr. MorleyThe public consultation exercise, which has now started, on the future of enriched cages, will form part of our evidence gathering process about the welfare benefits of these cages. We will also consider all available scientific evidence. The industry needs to make long term investment decisions.
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the scientific research which informed her decision to hold a full public consultation into the future of the enriched egg laying cage. [73113]
§ Mr. MorleyThe public consultation exercise has been started at the earliest opportunity to allow the industry to make long term investment decisions.
Scientific research into enriched cages is on-going.