§ Baroness Gould of Potternewtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many Questions for Written Answer have been tabled in the House of Lords since the Whitsun Recess on the subject of slaughterhouses or the Meat Hygiene Service; and what has been the cost of answering those Questions. [HL3277]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Donoughue)In the three weeks following the Whitsun Recess, to 25 June 1999, 224 Written Questions on the subject of slaughterhouses or the Meat Hygiene Service were tabled in the House of Lords. The cost of answering these questions during that period, incurred by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Meat Hygiene Service, was approximately £10,920. The total cost will be substantially higher, since work on these questions will continue well into July.
In addition, the effect of answering these Questions has been to divert officials and Ministers away from other important work. The cost of this cannot be quantified.