HC Deb 14 March 1995 vol 256 cc499-501W
Mr. Gill

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the aggregate estimated annual cost of the Meat Hygiene Service;

(2) what is the aggregate annual cost of all Meat Hygiene Service staff in the financial year 1995–96.

Mrs. Browning

The total estimated cost of the Meat Hygiene Service in 1995–96 is £53.4 million. Within this figure, £26.5 million relates to the cost of employed staff—excluding relief cover for holidays, sickness and so on—and £10.2 million is for contracted veterinary services.

Mr. Gill

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what protection has been written into staff contracts of employment to cover the eventuality that the Meat Hygiene Service does not receive parliamentary approval.

Mrs. Browning

Parliamentary approval is not required for the setting up of the Meat Hygiene Service, which will be an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Changes to secondary legislation are required to place responsibility for fresh meat and welfare enforcement on Ministers.

The majority of Meat Hygiene Service employees will be meat inspectors transferring from their local authority employers to the agency on 1 April 1995 in accordance with the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981.

Meat Hygiene Service staff employed by MAFF in advance of launch are subject to the Ministry's standard terms, which provide for three months notice or payment in lieu.

Mr. Gill

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) on what date the chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service was appointed;

(2) what is the total remuneration package for the chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service.

Mrs. Browning

The appointment of the chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service for an initial period of five years was announced on 19 May 1994 and he took up his post full time on 1 September 1994. The chief executive's annual salary is £70,000. In addition, he is eligible for an annual, non-pensionable performance-related bonus of up to 12.5 per cent. of basic pay.

Mr. Gill

To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (1) what is the total number of staff appointed to the Meat Hygiene Service;

(2) what is the ultimate complement of full-time and part-time staff to be appointed to the Meat Hygiene Service.

Mrs. Browning

At launch, the Meat Hygiene Service will employ 947 staff, comprising 872 meat inspectors and veterinarians and 75 management and support staff. Veterinary services will be obtained also through contracts with veterinary practices. The complement of the Meat Hygiene Service will be subject to adjustments to reflect any changes in the number of licensed fresh meat premises and the requirements of the relevant legislation.

Mr. Gill

To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (1) on what date it is proposed that the Meat Hygiene Service will become operational;

(2) on what date he made it his policy to establish the Meat Hygiene Service.

Mrs. Browning

In March 1992 the then Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) announced the intention to create a national meat hygiene service, constituted as an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to take over the fresh meat hygiene enforcement currently carried out by local authorities.

The Meat Hygiene Service will become operational on 1 April 1995.

Mr. Gill

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what premises have been acquired or leased by the Meat Hygiene Service.

Mrs. Browning

None. The Meat Hygiene Service is a minority occupier in Government offices in York, Cambridge, Wolverhampton, Taunton, Edinburgh and Cardiff.

Mr. Gill

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what subordinate legislation is required to give effect to the Meat Hygiene Service; and what is the timetable for its introduction.

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer on 13 March 1995]: Changes are needed to make Ministers responsible for the enforcement of fresh meat hygiene and welfare at slaughter legislation. The following regulations, which include other changes not relevant to the establishment of the Meat Hygiene Service, are being laid before Parliament to come into force on 1 April 1995:

The Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995The Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 andThe Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995.

The following regulations will provide for Ministers to enforce controls in fresh meat plants over unfit meat and bovine offals.

The Animal By Products (Identification) Regulations 1995, andThe Bovine Offal (Prohibition) (Amendment) Regulations 1995.

The Meat (Hygiene, Inspection and Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/361) were laid before Parliament on 17 February and will, mostly, come into operation on 1 April 1995. Regulations 12 and 13 of these regulations, which provide for formal consultation on charges, come into operation on 13 March 1995.