Written question asked by Roger Williams (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 23 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 3 March 2005. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Thursday, 3 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10th February 2005, 431 c1653W, on bovine passports, if she will list the reasons for the successful appeals of the 8,196 bovines initially refused applications for passports. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2005, Official Report, column 1653W, on bovine passports, if she will list the reasons for the successful appeals of the 8,196 bovines initially refused applications for passports. [218859] Alun Michael: Cattle passports are issued by the British Cattle Movement Service which is part of the Rural Payments Agency. Successful appeals in respect of the 8,196 cattle initially refused passports can be broken down as follows: External circumstances outside the control of the farmer for example floods or industrial action--6 per cent. Exceptional personal circumstances for example the bereavement of a close relative--11 per cent. Exceptional postal delay--15 per cent. Actions of officials for example mistakes or removal of farm records during inspection--12 per cent. An illness or malady affecting the keeper which prevented the application being made on time--21 per cent. Other reasons--including problems with the use of home computers or unavoidable delays in obtaining ear tags from manufacturers--35 per cent. In all these cases, evidence of the exceptional circumstance was demonstrated.

Secondary information