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Illegal Food Imports

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many non-statutory inspections were carried out for illegal food imports in each of the last 10 years, broken down by category. [78615]

Mr. Morley: Control of imports of products of animal origin is the responsibility of Local/Port Health Authorities. Information on the number of inspections carried out is not held centrally. During the course of checks for other products (including drugs and money), illegal food imports may also be found. Since 1 April 2001, 3899 seizures of animal products have been reported to Defra).

Animal Welfare

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

7 Nov 2002 : Column 564W

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.

Live Sheep
Country of destinationSlaughterFatteningBreeding
Austria0022
Belgium004
France49,4763,040158
Germany4,12905
Isle of Man0011
Italy29,24400
Netherlands456055
Republic of Ireland166,86538592
Totals250,1703,425347

Live Pigs
Country of destinationSlaughterFatteningBreeding
Belgium003,888
Denmark0047
France0047
Germany003,628
Greece00171
Isle of Man0071
Italy001,194
Netherlands009,038
Philippines0075
Poland00701
Spain001,607
Republic of Ireland20,951022
Totals20,951020,489

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]

Mr. Morley: The information requested is as follows:

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DateTotal animalsWhere consignments were certifiedAnimals rejected at certificationAnimals rejected at Dover docksDestination
17–103000England, Scotland and Wales200France
18–103575Wales370France and Holland
20–102675England and Wales800Italy and France
24–102515England and Wales190Italy and France
29–10 Alda-K2666England and Wales220Italy, Belgium, Germany and France
29–10 Caroline2621England and Wales320Italy 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.

Home Energy Conservation Bill

Mr. Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representation her Department has received from local authorities (a) prior to and (b) following the withdrawal of the Home Energy Conservation Bill; and if she will list these local authorities. [77403]

Mr. Meacher: We have received representations from Local Authorities regarding various aspects of the Home Energy Conservation Bill. They were all received prior to the Bill's withdrawal.

The following Local Authorities have expressed general support for the Bill;

































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The following Local Authorities have expressed support for the Bill ''in principle'';



The following Local Authorities have expressed support for the Bill, provided that extra funding is provided;









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The following local authorities have requested that statutory targets be included in the Bill;









The following local authorities have expressed support for the clauses of the Bill that relate to Fuel Poverty;



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