§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will meet the Institution of Environmental Health Officers to discuss whether meat inspection should remain a local authority function.
§ Mr. MacleanOur officials and those of the Department of Health are in regular contact with representatives of the institution, and have on a number of occasions discussed with them the future arrangements for meat hygiene enforcement. In addition, the institution has submitted written evidence to the review of meat hygiene enforcement in Great Britain and was represented on the review consultative panel. The views of the institution will be taken fully into account by the Agriculture and Health Ministers when a decision is reached on future meat hygiene enforcement arrangements.