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1 Apr 2009 : Column 1244W—continued
| (b) Cattle numbers | |||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| (c) Pig numbers | |||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Source: June Agricultural Survey and Cattle Tracing System | |||
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of (a) sheep flocks, (b) cattle herds and (c) pig herds in each region in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [266455]
Jane Kennedy: The following tables show the number of holdings recording sheep, cattle and pigs by region in England at June each year for 2006-08.
| (a) Holdings with s heep | |||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| (b) Holdings with cattle | |||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| (c) Holdings with pigs | |||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Source: June Agricultural Survey and Cattle Tracing System | |||
Agriculture: Foreign Workers
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what meetings he and his officials have had with Home Office officials on the availability of non-EU sheep shearers in summer 2009. [266386]
Jane Kennedy: No meetings on this matter have taken place between DEFRA and the Home Office. However, DEFRA and Home Office officials have discussed this issue with UK industry representatives separately.
Animal Welfare: Training
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the provision of training in animal welfare to staff. [266963]
Jane Kennedy: DEFRA offers a wide range of comprehensive guidance and training programmes to local authorities on animal welfare.
In 2006-07, DEFRA arranged a number of training seminars for local authority officers to help explain new powers under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Guidance was also issued on the use of improvement notices under the 2006 Act.
9 January 2008, The Welfare of Animals During Transport;
10 November 2008, Control of Animal By-Products, and;
11 March 2009, Stock Assessment: Lambing
We have also arranged a Stock Assessment: Dairy Cattle course for 30 April 2009.
Bees: Research
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will meet the British Beekeepers Association to discuss honey bee health research; and if he will make a statement. [266389]
Jane Kennedy: I met the British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA) on 2 February to discuss bee health research following my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's announcement on 21 January on the allocation of more funding by DEFRA in this area. This funding forms part of a wider programme of research into threats to pollinators including honeybees, the details of which are currently being finalised with the other funders. Once these discussions have been concluded, my officials will be arranging meetings with the BBKA and other interested parties to discuss the programme in more detail.
Bluetongue Disease: Vaccination
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to take to increase awareness of (a) bluetongue and (b) the bluetongue vaccination in the farming community. [264049]
Jane Kennedy: DEFRA raises awareness of Bluetongue disease, and the benefits of vaccination against it, through the regularly updated Bluetongue web pages and through its ongoing communications to livestock keepers through livestock market road shows, Farming Link magazine and through the support it offers to the industry-led Joint campaign Against Bluetongue (JAB).
The agreed approach of the awareness raising campaign is that Government provide updates on the disease risks, numbers of cases in UK and on the continent, and that industry leaders are the primary communicators to encourage vaccination. JAB includes a wide range of livestock and veterinary organisations, including the companies producing the vaccines, and supported by DEFRA.
DEFRA also updates wider stakeholders through regular meetings, and encourages industry to use these messages in their own communications with their members. The Chief Veterinary Officer or Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer will also raise awareness of the disease and promote vaccination in talks or interviews.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government has to encourage the use of the surplus stock of short-dated bluetongue vaccine in the next 12 months. [265845]
Jane Kennedy: Vaccination in England and Wales is voluntary. In line with the Core Group of industry stakeholders, we believe that mass vaccination can be best—and most rapidly—achieved through a voluntary approach, supported by an industry-led communications campaign promoting the benefits of vaccination.
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