To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines his Department has issued regarding the feeding of uncooked offal and meat to hunt hounds.

The Department has issued no guidelines specifically to hunt kennels. Guidance has been issued from time to time by various authorities on the control of dog tapeworms, advising dog owners generally about the need to cook meat and offal before feeding.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to make it an offence to feed uncooked meat and offal to dogs.

There are no such plans.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in 1990, 1991 and 1992 his Department has met representatives of the Masters of Foxhounds Association; and if they discussed the problems associated with feeding uncooked offal and meat to hunt hounds.

The Department has met representatives of the Master of Foxhounds Association on several occasions since the beginning of 1990 to discuss the disposal of fallen livestock generally.