HC Deb 03 March 2004 vol 418 cc949-51W
Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many equines were slaughtered for human consumption in England in each year since 2000, broken down by type; [156566]

(2) how many tonnes of horsemeat were (a) produced in England and (b) exported from England in each year since 2000; [156567]

(3) how many tonnes of horsemeat were imported into the UK in each year since 2000; [156568]

(4) how many horses were exported from the UK to the EU in each year since 2000; [156569]

(5) how many horses, intended for slaughter, were exported from the UK to the EU in each year since 2000; and how many horses were exported to countries outside the EU; [156659]

(6) how many horses that were not intended for human consumption were slaughtered in the UK in each year since 2000. [156660]

Alun Michael

the information requested is given in the following table:

UK production and trade in horses and horsemeat 2000–03
2000 2001 2002 2003
Equines slaughtered (units—England) 9,112 10,479 8,284 6,727
for human consumption n/a n/a n/a n/a
not for human consumption n/a n/a n/a n/a
Horsemeatproduction (tonnes) n/a n/a n/a n/a
Horsemeat (tonnes)
Imports
From:
theEU 0 6 0 0
the rest of the world 0 0 0 0
Exports
To:
theEU 2,857 2,417 2,022 1.566
the rest of the world 0 0 0 0
Horses (units)
Imports
Of which:
Pure-bred breeding horses
theEU 4,163 1,733 1,902 2.234
the rest of the world 1.104 835 715 728
Horses for slaughterm
the EU — — — —
the rest of the world — — — —
Horses other than for slaughter
theEU 503 1,986 383 286
the rest of the world 147 48 183 190
Exports
Of which:
Pure-bred breeding horses
theEU 1,641 1,714 1,392 2,041
the rest of the world 934 842 1,088 2,223
Horses for slaughter
theEU — — — —
the rest of the world — — — —
UK production and trade in horses and horsemeat 2000–03
2000 2001 2002 2003
Horses other than fir slaughter
the EU 1,572 1,292 662 1,555
The rest of the world 695 375 364 338
source:
H M Customs and Excise
Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities & Food) Consultancy
Trade and IT, ESD, DEFRA
2003 EU data is provisional and subject to amendment

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs (1) which EU Directive or Regulation requires horse traceability for disease surveillance purposes; [156655]

(2) what recent discussions she has had with the EU about disease surveillance in horses. [156656]

Alun Michael

There is currently no requirement in Eropean legislation for a horse traceability system for disease surveillance purposes, but both the Government and the horse industry consider that there is a need for a national equine database. Defra is therefore working with the industry to set up such a database that will help to implement the horse passports requirements, and underpin economic and animal health and welfare strategies for the horse and its role within the rural economy.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to the Department of implementing the minimum values Legislation was in each of the last three years. [156663]

Alun Michael

The cost to the Department of horse and pony export licensing (commonly referred to as the minimum values legislation) in England during the last three financial years was:

£
Amount
2000–01 41,643
2001–02 39,705
2002–03 43,374