To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many live adult cattle have been exported for (a) breeding, (b) further fattening and (c) slaughter since 1 May 2006; and how many in each category were exported to each country of destination. (99745)

It is not currently possible to obtain reliable information from the EU-wide system for export certification (TRACES).

However, the GB Cattle Tracing System (CTS) is updated as and when cattle are exported. The CTS shows that 14,352 cattle of 42 days of age and older were exported to mainland Europe in the period from1 May 2006 to 11 October 2006. The CTS does not indicate whether the animals were intended for breeding, production or slaughter. The cattle were exported to the following countries: Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Germany, Hungary, Estonia, Poland, Denmark, Romania and Switzerland. A breakdown of how many cattle were exported to each of these countries is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2006, Official Report, column 1593W, on animal exports, what the total journey time was from the place of departure to the final destination of each of the consignments of calves exported from Dover on 11 October 2006. (99746)

Ten of the 14 route plans have so far been returned. The time taken to the nearest hour to get from the export premises to the places of destination including rest breaks during the journey are recorded as: