To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on the revision of EC Regulation 1/2005 on animal welfare in transport. (263233)

While we have yet to enter into formal discussions with the European Commission on the review of EC Regulation 1/2005 on the welfare of animals during transport, as it has yet to publish formal proposals, we have responded to early opportunities presented by the Commission to comment on a draft options paper. The UK provided a set of generic principles which was drawn up in close consultation with the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer in Wales, the Scottish Government Rural Directorate and the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland. We fully support the Commission’s initiative to review key elements of the Regulation and welcomed the opportunity in the early stages of the review process to express our opinion on the Commission’s policy options.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the proposed revision of EC Regulation 1/2005 on animal welfare in transport on livestock transportation in the Highlands and Islands. (263234)

The European Commission has yet to publish its formal proposals for the review of EC Regulation 1/2005 on the welfare of animals during transport. We are working closely with the Scottish Government Rural Directorate to prepare for the review. Its input will be central to establishing the likely effects of the review of the Regulation on livestock transportation in the Highlands and Islands.