To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the draft Animal Health Bill, whether he plans to bring forward proposals to extend the powers available to inspectors. (315786)

Clause 47 of the draft Animal Health Bill broadens the powers available to inspectors to take samples of substances such as blood, tissue, excreta and milk to find out whether disease, or causative agents of disease exist.

The draft Animal Health Bill has been published for consultation and will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by Parliament before any such Bill is formally introduced.