Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 24 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 31 January 2002. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 31 January 2002 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, what steps her Department is taking to support the domestic game industry; and if she will make a statement. - Inc figures.

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to support the domestic game industry; and if she will make a statement. [31204] Mr. Morley: The only sizeable farmed game industry in the UK is the deer (venison) industry. In the main, Government help for that industry has come in the form of funding R&D. The Government have funded deer related projects since 1988, the most recent being a three year project, costing £178,000, looking at low input systems for venison production. For the future, R&D in the deer sector is likely to concentrate on sustainability and the comparative environmental cost of farming deer. Deer farming has also benefited from grants under the Agriculture Development Scheme, aimed mainly at developing assurance schemes in this sector.

Secondary information