HC Deb 28 October 1976 vol 918 cc351-3W
Mr. Brotherton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many extra veterinary inspectors are to be recruited as a result of the Poultry Meat (Hygiene) Regulations.

Mr. Strang

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 5th August.—[Vol. 916, c. 2101–02.]

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the current recruitment and training of poultry meat inspectors is at a level sufficient to provide a full complement by the time of the implemention of the new service.

Mr. Strang

As I told the hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) on 5th August—[Vol. 916, c. 2101–2.]a full inspection service will not be mandatory until August 1979. In the first instance only exporting plants are likely to require inspectors and we have asked local authorities to take a flexible attitude to manning levels while the inspection service is being phased-in. Appropriate arrangements for this phasing-in period are the subject of continuing consultations with local authority associations, the Local Authorities' Conditions of Service Advisory Board and the British Poultry Federation.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the cost of training poultry meat inspectors required under the Poultry Meat (Hygiene) Regulations.

Mr. Strang

In the region of £1,500 each, including the student inspectors' salary during training.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has of the number of spent birds from egg-producing units that will not be able to be slaughtered when the Poultry Meat (Hygiene) Regulations are fully implemented.

Mr. Strang

I am confident that the indlustry has sufficient flexibility to overcome any potential problems in this field.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had from district and metropolitan authorities concerning the new poultry hygiene service.

Mr. Strang

During the period of consultation on proposals for Poultry Meat (Hygiene) Regulations, the associations representing these authorities made written representations as did individual Authorities. My officials met representativies of the associations on two occasions and subsequently I had two meetings with them. I also met the Local Authorities' Conditions of Service Advisory Board. Since the regulations were laid before Paliament, consultations with the associations and the industry have continued on flexible arrangements for the phasing-in of poultry meat inspection.