To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has evaluated on the zoonotic disease risks arising from the intensification of (a) meat and (b) dairy production in other countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has evaluated on the zoonotic disease risks arising from the intensification of (a) meat and (b) dairy production in other countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted of cruelty towards animals in London in each year since 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted of cruelty towards animals in London in each year since 1997.

(2) what recent estimate she has made of the number of animal sanctuaries there are in England.

(2) what recent estimate she has made of the number of animal sanctuaries there are in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what process her Department undertakes to estimate the number of animal sanctuaries; and what definition of a sanctuary is used.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what process her Department undertakes to estimate the number of animal sanctuaries; and what definition of a sanctuary is used.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of animals likely to need re-homing as a result of the introduction of the new welfare offence in the Animal Welfare Bill; and what percentage change she expects in the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of animals likely to need re-homing as a result of the introduction of the new welfare offence in the Animal Welfare Bill; and what percentage change she expects in the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many animal sanctuaries she estimates are open to the public in England;

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many animal sanctuaries she estimates are open to the public in England;

The answer to that last question is that this amends primary legislation, whereas the others do not. I am surprised to be criticised for the Government having chosen to introduce a particular statutory instrument by affirmative rather than negative resolution. One of the other two does not have to come before...

The answer to that last question is that this amends primary legislation, whereas the others do not. I am surprised to be criticised for the Government having chosen to introduce a particular statutory instrument by affirmative rather than negative resolution. One of the other two does not have to come before...

My Lords, perhaps the noble Countess would be good enough to let me finish the answer that I was giving to her query. Tests not in the OIE manual or adopted Community standards are explicitly allowed, but only if they are shown to match or exceed the sensitivity and specificity standards...

My Lords, perhaps the noble Countess would be good enough to let me finish the answer that I was giving to her query. Tests not in the OIE manual or adopted Community standards are explicitly allowed, but only if they are shown to match or exceed the sensitivity and specificity standards...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for giving me the opportunity to come back on this matter. There is a very good list of the criteria that are used in building up a picture of infected premises which includes taking samples and sending them off for testing. One of...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for giving me the opportunity to come back on this matter. There is a very good list of the criteria that are used in building up a picture of infected premises which includes taking samples and sending them off for testing. One of...

My Lords, it is coming up to five years since the foot and mouth disease outbreak. If that has not been done, can the Minister say why not? I remember the late Fred Brown coming over from America and telling us that they were using the tests in America. Why has...

My Lords, it is coming up to five years since the foot and mouth disease outbreak. If that has not been done, can the Minister say why not? I remember the late Fred Brown coming over from America and telling us that they were using the tests in America. Why has...

No, my Lords, it is this instrument. Infected premises are those that are confirmed by the Chief Veterinary Officer as having disease present under the veterinary definition set out in the FMD directive. That confirmation must be arrived at by a veterinary inquiry involving sampling, unless the CVO believes that...

No, my Lords, it is this instrument. Infected premises are those that are confirmed by the Chief Veterinary Officer as having disease present under the veterinary definition set out in the FMD directive. That confirmation must be arrived at by a veterinary inquiry involving sampling, unless the CVO believes that...

My Lords, the answer is the former of those two. It can be minimised in the way that the noble Duke would prefer. I hope that I have answered the queries that have arisen out of the debate. On Question, Motion agreed to.

My Lords, the answer is the former of those two. It can be minimised in the way that the noble Duke would prefer. I hope that I have answered the queries that have arisen out of the debate. On Question, Motion agreed to.

rose to move, That the draft regulations laid before the House on 9 November be approved [9th Report from the Joint Committee and 17th Report from the Merits Committee]. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I trust that these regulations will not be contentious as their purpose is straightforward and serves only...

rose to move, That the draft regulations laid before the House on 9 November be approved [9th Report from the Joint Committee and 17th Report from the Merits Committee]. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I trust that these regulations will not be contentious as their purpose is straightforward and serves only...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his explanation of this statutory instrument. I declare my interest as a livestock farmer. Several questions arise from the presentation of the instrument. As the Explanatory Memorandum very kindly mentions and as the noble Lord has drawn to our attention, full implementation of the directive...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his explanation of this statutory instrument. I declare my interest as a livestock farmer. Several questions arise from the presentation of the instrument. As the Explanatory Memorandum very kindly mentions and as the noble Lord has drawn to our attention, full implementation of the directive...

My Lords, I, too, am grateful to the Minister, for his explanation. I accept that the regulations implement the directive, but it is very unfortunate that Defra has put the cart before the horse by publishing this instrument before the publication of those on vaccination and other aspects of the directive....

My Lords, I, too, am grateful to the Minister, for his explanation. I accept that the regulations implement the directive, but it is very unfortunate that Defra has put the cart before the horse by publishing this instrument before the publication of those on vaccination and other aspects of the directive....

My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing the statutory instrument. I join other noble Lords in expressing disquiet that we are being asked to discuss this regulation, when it seems to me, and the Committee on the Merits of Statutory Instruments, to be the third in a series of three. The...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing the statutory instrument. I join other noble Lords in expressing disquiet that we are being asked to discuss this regulation, when it seems to me, and the Committee on the Merits of Statutory Instruments, to be the third in a series of three. The...

My Lords, the Minister said that he wishes to have a longer time for debate. Is that the debate about the forthcoming instruments?

My Lords, the Minister said that he wishes to have a longer time for debate. Is that the debate about the forthcoming instruments?

Draft SI on Animal Health Act 1981 (amendment) (SI 2005/3475). Lords debate on a motion to approve. Agreed to on question.

Draft SI on Animal Health Act 1981 (amendment) (SI 2005/3475). Lords debate on a motion to approve. Agreed to on question.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of animals used for experimentation were genetically modified, in the last year for which figures are available broken down by species .

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of animals used for experimentation were genetically modified, in the last year for which figures are available broken down by species .