David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on prescribing anti-malarial prophylaxis to members of the armed forces serving overseas.
David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received from Somerset county council on the reopening of railway stations in Somerset.
David Heath: To ask the Attorney-General what steps he has taken to improve prosecution of wildlife crime.
David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which local authorities have not signed up to the community covenant.
David Heath: Animal rescue centres do not receive any Government funding or direct assistance.
David Heath: This information is not held by any Government Department.
David Heath: The export of live animals for slaughter and fattening make up a small proportion of animals fattened and slaughtered within the UK. There has been no assessment made of either annual value or annual loss to the economy and the UK's slaughter and processing sectors, respectively.
David Heath: Two licences have been issued by Natural England to permit cull companies to control badgers.
David Heath: Details of the two badger cull pilots, including the number of badgers culled in each of the pilot areas, will be published in due course following their completion.
David Heath: Details of the two pilot culls, including information on the proportion of the area covered and of the badger population culled, will be published in due course following their completion.
David Heath: The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency will publish details of the new model for veterinary scanning surveillance in England and Wales in the next few weeks.
David Heath: Following the recommendation of the Surveillance Advisory Group, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) initiated the Surveillance 2014 project. The project aims to create a new, more effective and financially sustainable surveillance system, including improving access through better geographical coverage; better partnership working; and developing deeper specialist...
David Heath: Information on the transporters who received statutory notices cannot be provided. To do so in respect of those transporters that are sole traders would, we believe, contravene data protection laws. In cases where the infringement is serious, such information might prejudice any investigation and possible prosecution being taken by the relevant local authority. For further details on the...
David Heath: Vehicles are selected for additional checks at the port on the basis of a combination of risk analysis and random selection.
David Heath: All of the vehicles were subject to inspection at point of loading onto the vehicle. To inspect all of the vehicles again would not be proportionate.
David Heath: The legislation on welfare during transport (Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005) stipulates what member states shall check when approving journey logs. Among other things, Article 14 requires that the journey log is realistic and indicates compliance with the terms of the Council Regulation. It does not require any checks of compliance with other legislation, including that relating to the rules...
David Heath: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for policy on mechanically separated meat (MSM). During the summer, senior FSA officials met senior European Commission officials including the director-general for health and consumers. They reaffirmed the need for EU level discussions as a matter of urgency, further to the publication of a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) scientific...
David Heath: The Independent Surveillance Advisory Group (SAG) was established in 2011 so all those with an interest in veterinary surveillance could help shape a future model and ensure that all issues were thoroughly considered. The Surveillance Advisory Group's final report www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/publication/sag-final-report was published by AHVLA on 10 April 2012. Following the SAG's...
David Heath: holding answer 10 September 2013 Badger carcases resulting from the pilot badger culls need to be recorded and disposed of in line with legal requirements as Category 1 waste under the Animal By-products Regulations. The two badger pilot culls are being carried out by companies under licence from Natural England. Detailed operational information will not be published during the pilots. A...
David Heath: Category 1 waste is animal by-product waste as defined in the EU Animal By-product Regulations 1069/2009. This includes specified risk material from abattoirs, international catering waste, carcasses of pet and zoo animals, carcasses of ruminants at the point of disposal and certain other animal by-products. The vast majority of category 1 material will be sent for rendering or incineration....