HC Deb 03 May 1971 vol 816 cc985-6
6. Mr. Ellis

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many carcases weekly of sheep during lambing time, and cattle at peak periods, respectively, are collected from the farms of North Wales and surrounding districts for disposal at each processing plant in North Wales.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I am afraid that the information is not available.

Mr. Ellis

Is not a valuable service performed by factories disposing of animan carcases? However, ought not planning decisions on the location of these factories to be decided only on the basis of adequate information being made available to the inspector and the authority making the planning decision?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I am not certain to which factory the lion. Gentleman is referring. There are two cases concerning one factory. I limit my self to saying that this is an important service and that this is an important question.

Mr. Barry Jones

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that one of the factories is in my constituency and that there is regularly an enormous stench or stink which makes life for many people in Saltney intolerable?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I am aware of the complaints about smells from his factory. I understand that Flintshire County Council has recently issued an enforcement notice and that there is, therefore, a possibility that the matter will come before my right hon. and learned Friend on appeal, and so I cannot comment further at the moment.

24. Mr. Ellis

asked the Secretary of State for Wales where those factories are sited in Wales which process byproducts from animal carcases

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I am informed that there are 20 primary processing factories in Wales. I will, with permission, list their locations in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Ellis

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply, but does he not agree that, wherever possible, these factories should not be sited in urban positions and that if there is a proposal to transfer a factory from an urban area to a rural area, it should, other things being equal, be regarded with favour?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I accept what the hon. Gentleman says about the environmental problem. However, several of these are the subject of inquiry at the moment and, therefore, I should not like to go further at present.

The following is the information:

Anglesey Menai Bridge
Breconshire Gilwern
Caernarvonshire Bangor
Cardiganshire Tan-y-groes
Carmarthenshire 1. Pen-y-banc
2. Cwnman Lampeter
Denbighshire 1. Marchwiel, Wrexham
2. Llanfair TH Abergele
3. Cefn-y-Beidd
Flintshire 1. Saltney
2. Bodelwyddan
Glamorgan 1. Llansamlet
2. Mountain Hare, Merthyr Tydfil
3. Pencoed
4. Grangetown, Cardiff
Monmouthshire Mamhilad, Pontypool
Montgomeryshire Guilsfield
Pembrokeshire 1. Camrose
2. Whitland
Radnorshire Knighton