§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the forthcoming publication, by the European Commission, of a new Directive on the transport of live animals; what efforts are being made to persuade European colleagues(a) to replace the transport of live animals by a trade in meat and (b) to adopt a maximum limit of eight hours per journey to slaughter; and if she will make a statement. [114000]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government would prefer a trade in meat rather than the long distance transport of animals for slaughter. We have consistently pressed for improvements in the current controls on the welfare of animals during transport and more recently for the introduction of a general eight hour maximum for journeys within the EU. We look forward to publication of the European Commission's long overdue proposals to update and improve the current directive.