§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many carcases are currently waiting to be disposed of under the over-30-months scheme. [47770]
§ Mr. RookerThere are no carcases awaiting disposal under the over-30-months scheme (OTMS). The majority of the 15,000 cattle which enter the OTMS each week are rendered to produce meat and bonemeal (MBM) and tallow, which is being safely and securely stored pending destruction. Around 2,000 animals a week, mostly on-farm casualties, are directly incinerated in appropriately authorised incinerators. Capacity for direct156W incineration is expected to further increase as new facilities covered by the Intervention Board's 1996 tender for carcase incineration facilities come on stream, subject to the successful companies obtaining the necessary planning and environmental consents, thus reducing the rate of increase of MBM and tallow stocks.