HC Deb 01 July 1999 vol 334 c425
10. Mr. James Plaskitt (Warwick and Leamington)

What measures he is taking to ensure that controls on specified risk materials do not place additional burdens on the livestock industry. [87925]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Jeff Rooker)

The House will be aware that the Government have deferred plans to charge the meat industry for the cost of specified risk material enforcement for a further year. That will save the industry some £20 million.

Mr. Plaskitt

Farmers in my constituency are very grateful to the Government for meeting the costs of the scheme, and I think they accept in principle that the time has come for the costs to return to the industry. Can my hon. Friend say any more about the possible timing, and about whether he is considering any phasing in of costs?

Mr. Rooker

The time mentioned in the announcement was a year. When my right hon. Friend announced the concession, having noted the industry's problems, we indicated that there was a potential for phasing in, probably over two years.

This is a public health measure, and as such it is very important. It does not relate to every single abattoir; it is intended to deal with cattle and, to a lesser extent, sheep. We feel that the industry should take the cost on board, but it would probably be wrong to ask it to take all of it on board in one go.

Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York)

I welcome the postponing of the SRM costs, but will the Minister act urgently to reverse the decision to have qualified vets on site at the time of the slaughtering of all animals? This is an unacceptable charge which has more than doubled the cost of the slaughtering of all animals, and poses the risk that small local abattoirs will have to be closed in the coming months.

Mr. Rooker

We have considered the matter, and are still considering it. We have not yet announced the charging regime for this year. At present the Ministry is bearing about £300,000 of the charges, and the industry is therefore benefiting from the delay. When we present our proposals, however, I hope that they will take on board what the hon. Lady has said about the requirement for full-time veterinary supervision.