§ 33. Mr. Turtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the present level of maximum charges under, the Meat Inspection (Amendment) Regulations, 1966 is insufficient and is causing some local authorities to finance the service partly out of the local rates; and whether he will review the position.
§ Mr. John MackieWe are satisfied that the present maximum charges, while not necessarily representing the full cost of meat inspection in all cases are nevertheless sufficient to enable local authorities to provide a full and effective service. My right hon. Friend's predecessor reviewed the position in 1966, and we do not propose to do so at the present time.
§ Mr. TurtonHas not the time come for a review of the whole meat charges system, which is unpopular with the meat trade and is bearing heavily on ratepayers in the producing areas rather than the consuming areas?
§ Mr. MackieI do not think that that is so. I admit that there are difficulties because there are areas of low rateable value and large slaughter numbers, and this does create a problem. But, as I said to the right hon. Gentleman, we have reviewed the system once since 1963. We do not propose to review it immediately, but we shall keep the situation in mind. It is not an easy one.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsIs it not a fact that in many of the areas where rateable values are low to which the Parliamentary Secretary referred meat inspection is not being carried out satisfactorily?
§ Mr. MackieThis is one of our difficulties. One of the reasons for bringing 442 in the 1963 Act was to try to ensure that it was done satisfactorily. When we reviewed the system in 1966, we could see no reason to alter it. The powers given to regulate times of slaughtering were of tremendous help because it overcame one of the difficulties which made the system expensive, when overtime had to be paid for Sunday mornings and all the odd times when slaughterers want to turn out to kill their cattle.