Chicken Farm, Rushden, Northamptonshire

Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): I am grateful to all the Members who have come along to listen to the petition, particularly my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Tom Pursglove), whose constituency is also affected by this dreadful proposal for a factory-style American chicken farm in...

Chicken Farm, Rushden, Northamptonshire

Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): I am grateful to all the Members who have come along to listen to the petition, particularly my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Tom Pursglove), whose constituency is also affected by this dreadful proposal for a factory-style American chicken farm in...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department are taking to promote in-ovo gender identification techniques in the poultry industry in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department are taking to promote in-ovo gender identification techniques in the poultry industry in the UK.

I beg to move,

That this House has considered the proposed high-intensity chicken farm in Rushden Higham Ferrers.

First, I would like to thank my researcher, James Shipp, who has been unwell in the past few days—I wish him well—and my other colleagues, Jordan Ayres and Helen Harrison, who picked up and...

I beg to move,

That this House has considered the proposed high-intensity chicken farm in Rushden Higham Ferrers.

First, I would like to thank my researcher, James Shipp, who has been unwell in the past few days—I wish him well—and my other colleagues, Jordan Ayres and Helen Harrison, who picked up and...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone) on securing the debate on an application that has been made for a new poultry development in his constituency. I am aware that it is contentious in his constituency, and indeed that a petition signed by many people is...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone) on securing the debate on an application that has been made for a new poultry development in his constituency. I am aware that it is contentious in his constituency, and indeed that a petition signed by many people is...

I am most grateful to the Minister for much of what he says, but the Secretary of State has said that we will not have American-style factory farming. This is American-style factory farming, so why has it got its licences?

I am most grateful to the Minister for much of what he says, but the Secretary of State has said that we will not have American-style factory farming. This is American-style factory farming, so why has it got its licences?

As I said, there are two types of permits being sought here. The first is the environmental permits. As I explained earlier, under the environmental permitting regulations, the Environment Agency looks at the environmental issues. It does not look at animal welfare issues, which was the point my right hon....

As I said, there are two types of permits being sought here. The first is the environmental permits. As I explained earlier, under the environmental permitting regulations, the Environment Agency looks at the environmental issues. It does not look at animal welfare issues, which was the point my right hon....

I am thankful to the Minister, who has been most helpful in his response. Could he give the timescale for that review of policy?

I am thankful to the Minister, who has been most helpful in his response. Could he give the timescale for that review of policy?

It was in the Queen’s Speech that there will be an agriculture Bill later in this Session—possibly by next summer or autumn. We will publish further thoughts on future agriculture policy at some point in the new year. I assure my hon. Friend that a great deal of thinking on...

It was in the Queen’s Speech that there will be an agriculture Bill later in this Session—possibly by next summer or autumn. We will publish further thoughts on future agriculture policy at some point in the new year. I assure my hon. Friend that a great deal of thinking on...

Motion that this House has considered the proposed high-intensity chicken farm in Rushden Higham Ferrers. Agreed to on question.

Motion that this House has considered the proposed high-intensity chicken farm in Rushden Higham Ferrers. Agreed to on question.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the food welfare standards for hens and sows reared in Brazil, Thailand, Canada and the United States; and (2) whether future tariffs on imported poultry and pork products from those countries could be linked to higher animal welfare standards.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the food welfare standards for hens and sows reared in Brazil, Thailand, Canada and the United States; and (2) whether future tariffs on imported poultry and pork products from those countries could be linked to higher animal welfare standards.

To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) which EU states have not complied with the conventional cage ban for hens, (2) what steps they have taken in relation to any non-compliance, and (3) whether the UK still allows eggs to be imported from non-compliant countries.

To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) which EU states have not complied with the conventional cage ban for hens, (2) what steps they have taken in relation to any non-compliance, and (3) whether the UK still allows eggs to be imported from non-compliant countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of duck welfare rules relating to commercial duck farms; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of duck welfare rules relating to commercial duck farms; and if he will make a statement.

We are determined to hold this terrible disease at bay for the sake of our entire poultry sector, and our robust actions so far have included an amended avian influenza prevention zone from 28 February, which covers all of England and requires mandatory biosecurity for all keepers and the compulsory housing or netting of poultry and captive birds in defined higher-risk areas. That is very important for the entire sector.

We are determined to hold this terrible disease at bay for the sake of our entire poultry sector, and our robust actions so far have included an amended avian influenza prevention zone from 28 February, which covers all of England and requires mandatory biosecurity for all keepers and the compulsory housing or netting of poultry and captive birds in defined higher-risk areas. That is very important for the entire sector.

Further to what the Secretary of State just said, she must be aware that English poultry producers are concerned about the prospect of losing free-range status because of the postcode lottery of the bird flu restriction system. The British Free Range Egg Producers Association is particularly concerned about the inconsistent approach. What more can she say to assure egg producers throughout the UK that the right measures are being taken to sort out this whole sad issue?

Further to what the Secretary of State just said, she must be aware that English poultry producers are concerned about the prospect of losing free-range status because of the postcode lottery of the bird flu restriction system. The British Free Range Egg Producers Association is particularly concerned about the inconsistent approach. What more can she say to assure egg producers throughout the UK that the right measures are being taken to sort out this whole sad issue?

Colleagues will be aware that there was a full housing order until 28 February. With extensive scientific advice, we have gleaned that those places where wild fowl congregate are high-risk areas. That has been extensively peer reviewed on the basis of scientific

evidence, which is why we have published a paper to outline the rationale. This has absolutely not just come out of our own heads; in no way whatsoever are we doing anything other than protecting this vital sector.

Colleagues will be aware that there was a full housing order until 28 February. With extensive scientific advice, we have gleaned that those places where wild fowl congregate are high-risk areas. That has been extensively peer reviewed on the basis of scientific

evidence, which is why we have published a paper to outline the rationale. This has absolutely not just come out of our own heads; in no way whatsoever are we doing anything other than protecting this vital sector.

Will the Secretary of State join me in paying tribute to poultry producers across Norfolk who set the highest animal welfare and biosecurity standards? There has obviously been concern about the recent avian flu outburst, but can she confirm that no poultry producers in Norfolk will lose their free-range status?

Will the Secretary of State join me in paying tribute to poultry producers across Norfolk who set the highest animal welfare and biosecurity standards? There has obviously been concern about the recent avian flu outburst, but can she confirm that no poultry producers in Norfolk will lose their free-range status?

My Right Hon Friend the Secretary of State (Andrea Leadsom) has today made the following statement.

High Pathogenicity H5N8 Avian Influenza has been circulating in Europe since the autumn. There have been 9 confirmed cases in poultry in the UK and several findings in wild birds across England. Public Health England...

My Right Hon Friend the Secretary of State (Andrea Leadsom) has today made the following statement.

High Pathogenicity H5N8 Avian Influenza has been circulating in Europe since the autumn. There have been 9 confirmed cases in poultry in the UK and several findings in wild birds across England. Public Health England...

High Pathogenicity H5N8 Avian Influenza has been circulating in Europe since the autumn. There have been 9 confirmed cases in poultry in the UK and several findings in wild birds across England. Public Health England advises that the risk to public health from H5N8 is very low and the Food...

High Pathogenicity H5N8 Avian Influenza has been circulating in Europe since the autumn. There have been 9 confirmed cases in poultry in the UK and several findings in wild birds across England. Public Health England advises that the risk to public health from H5N8 is very low and the Food...

My Hon Friend the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (George Eustice) has today made the following statement:

I represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 23 January in Brussels.

Council opened with a presentation by the Maltese Presidency on their work programme for the next...

My Hon Friend the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (George Eustice) has today made the following statement:

I represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 23 January in Brussels.

Council opened with a presentation by the Maltese Presidency on their work programme for the next...

I represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 23 January in Brussels.

Council opened with a presentation by the Maltese Presidency on their work programme for the next six months.

This was followed by an update from Commissioner Hogan on the progress of EU trade talks, including a...

I represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 23 January in Brussels.

Council opened with a presentation by the Maltese Presidency on their work programme for the next six months.

This was followed by an update from Commissioner Hogan on the progress of EU trade talks, including a...