Veal-calves export ban opposed

A cross-party Commons select committee of MPs yesterday came down against a ban on the export of veal calves, and called on the ferry companies to lift the ban on the export of sheep, writes Colin Brown.

The report by the Commons Select Committee on Welsh Affairs is certain to anger animal rights activists.

The committee strongly supported the stand made by William Waldegrave, the Secretary of State for Agriculture, in seeking a European-wide ban on veal crates as the answer to the protests over the export trade in veal calves.

The committee, chaired by Labour's Gareth Wardell, fears that the row over the use of veal crates in Europe is damaging the export trade in Welsh lamb.