Mr. Gareth ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on financial support to small scale abattoirs in rural Wales. [38077]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsThe provision of grant aid to abattoirs is prohibited by EC State Aid restrictions except under certain specific conditions, including the abandonment of 125 per cent. of existing capacity in the same region. This effectively means that it is very difficult for the Government to provide financial support to small scale abattoirs in rural areas.