To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007, Official Report, column 61W, on animal welfare: transport, when four calves were humanely destroyed at Dover; and for what reason. (147732)

Since May 2006, animal health inspectors at Dover have found five calves in a collapsed state on vehicles intended for export. Notices were served requiring the immediate humane slaughter of all of these calves, although one died naturally. The notices did not require any further action as it was the opinion of the inspectors that the means and conditions of transport were not the cause of the calves condition. Because no post mortem was carried out, definitive prognosis is not available.