§ 4. Matthew Green (Ludlow)When she will publish the action plan to support small and medium-sized abattoirs and slaughterhouses. [133784]
§ The Minister for Rural Affairs and Local Environmental Quality (Alun Michael)We will publish data on the abattoir and meat cutting plant sector shortly. That will help to inform the better use of support mechanisms provided for under European Community legislation.
§ Matthew GreenThe Minister will be aware that in 1997 there were 506 abattoirs and that by August this year the figure had fallen to 395—a fall of more than 20 per cent. in six years. By now the figure may be even lower. Given the advantages of local abattoirs in minimising transport-related stress to animals, reducing the likelihood of disease outbreaks and increasing the availability of locally produced meat to consumers, should not the Government find specific grants to support and to increase the number of local abattoirs?
§ Alun MichaelThe hon. Gentleman makes some important points. It is also important that abattoirs are commercially viable and sustainable in the long term. Preparing the data on the current work of the sector has been time-consuming and exhaustive, but it is important to get those facts right. We are liaising with rural development agencies—indeed, I spoke to one this morning—and with Government offices for the regions to encourage planning for adequate abattoir provision in the development of regional food strategies. That goes with the grain of the hon. Gentleman's remarks.
§ Mr. Michael Jack (Fylde)Will the Minister acknowledge the important role that is played in the work of abattoirs by vets with experience of large animals? The findings of the recent inquiry into veterinary practice by the Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which are published today, show that there is an extreme shortage 775 of vets with large animal experience. Will the Minister outline the steps that his Department will take to address that problem?
§ Alun MichaelThe right hon. Gentleman will have heard the response of the chief veterinary officer to that report—he welcomed and acknowledged its findings. The animal health and welfare strategy will address those issues, which we regard as very important.
§ Norman Baker (Lewes)The situation described by my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Matthew Green) is even worse than he suggests. In 1975, there were 1,385 abattoirs; now, there are just 395. That huge reduction has an environmental effect in terms of extra lorry journeys, often over long distances, that are necessary to take farmers' stock from where they are reared. That not only affects the environment, but is bad for the animals and for biosecurity. Is not there a case for direct Government investment in that area?
§ Alun MichaelThe decline in the number of abattoirs has been with us for a very long time. Indeed, the first challenge that I was given when I went into local government in the early 1970s was to deal with the Cardiff abattoir. Distance of travel is an important issue, but I remind the hon. Gentleman that finance is available in the shape of the processing and marketing grant, which offers capital grants for processing and marketing facilities to help rural businesses to become more competitive. Small and medium-sized abattoirs may be eligible for that scheme, in competition with other projects. The region concerned is the right place in which to develop a strategic approach. We hope to be able to publish the data shortly, and, on the back of that, to work with rural development agencies and Government offices for the regions to consider the regional dimension and to ensure that the sector is able to compete effectively.