asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tam-worth of Monday 19 November, if he will consider banning the harvesting of deer velvet on Scottish deer farms until the Farm Animal Welfare Council has reported about the physiological and other possible effects of such harvesting upon the deer; and if he will publish the council's report.

I expect the council's advice to become available in time for my right hon. Friends and me to decide what action, if any, requires to be taken before the time of year when there could be any harvesting of antler velvet. It will be for the council in the first place to decide whether to publish its views on this subject.