HC Deb 22 July 1999 vol 335 cc663-4W
Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when abattoirs other than St. Merryn's in Cornwall will be approved for the processing of beef for export; and what estimate he has made of the number of abattoirs which will be approved for the processing of beef for export in the year following 1 August. [92336]

Mr. Nick Brown

It is up to abattoirs to apply for approval. If they do so we will deal with their application as quickly as possible.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when he expects the remaining restrictions on the export of beef to be lifted; [92373]

(2) if he will make a statement on his policy pressing for the export of beef-on-the-bone and of live cattle to be resumed. [92374]

Mr. Nick Brown

In my statement to the House on 14 July 1999,Official Report, column 405, I made it clear that I am working for the day when we are able to trade in beef on equal terms with other member states. I will put proposals to the European Commission for further relaxations of the export ban when I judge that we have a strong case which can be justified by science. In particular, the resumption of trade in beef on the bone, and beef from cattle more than 30 months old, will need to be informed by the views of the Government's scientific advisers.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the final inspection and approval by his Department needed before an abattoir can export beef will involve; and for what reason these inspections had not been carried out in preparation for the lifting of the beef export ban. [92344]

Mr. Nick Brown

To gain approval, a slaughterhouse must demonstrate that it has the facilities and control procedures to meet the requirements of the DBES. The assessment of premises seeking approval, which will include an inspection visit, will be made by a specially trained officer of the State Veterinary Service.

It was not possible to carry out these inspections or to grant approval until we had received and considered the recommendations in the Commission Inspectors' final report.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if cattle over 30 months old can be exported. [92342]

Mr. Nick Brown

No live cattle can be exported. Beef exported under the Date-based Export Scheme must be from cattle aged under 30 months at the time of slaughter.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the impact on animal welfare of the only abattoir licensed to process beef for export being located in Cornwall. [92345]

Mr. Nick Brown

Statutory rules are in place concerning the welfare of livestock during transport and at slaughter. They apply irrespective of where in the country the animals are transported or where the slaughter is taking place.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what help the Government plan to give to beef exporters in Great Britain. [92337]

Mr. Nick Brown

My Department has sent detailed advice about the Scheme to all abattoirs that may be eligible to participate in the Scheme and set up a helpline to give advice. Abattoirs can, free of charge, make test applications to determine the proportion of their animals which might be DBES eligible. This is designed to help them make their commercial decisions, and my officials are prepared to offer any further advice necessary to help abattoirs and other meat processing establishments in their consideration of how they might benefit from the Scheme. The Department has established a Beef Export Liaison Group to exchange views of those involved in beef exports which will monitor progress of the DBES and identify key markets. In addition, I and my colleagues will be taking every opportunity to promote the Date-based Export Scheme (DBES) to industry here and customers abroad.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when European Commission inspectors were invited to Britain to examine the facilities through which beef exports would be channelled. [92335]

Mr. Nick Brown

The inspection arrangements were the outcome of discussions and correspondence between my officials and Commission officials during January and February, which covered points of detail on the proposed operation of the scheme and the scope of and timetable for the inspection. We agreed with the inspectors that they would come at the end of March or during April. The date was subsequently confirmed for the week commencing 12 April.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what help the Government will provide with the running costs of the export scheme for slaughterhouses during the initial period of export build up after 1 August. [92338]

Mr. Nick Brown

The Government's policy is to recover the costs of operating the Date-based Export Scheme (DBES) from those who choose to benefit from it. The Government have, however, spent more than £1 million on developing the scheme, including the IT systems which are necessary to support it, which will not be recovered through charges.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects British beef supplies to be resumed to British service men serving abroad. [92339]

Mr. Nick Brown

The provisioning of the armed forces is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. The worldwide ban will be lifted from 1 August, so it will be legally possible to export beef for the use of British service men serving in the European Union and, subject to the rules of the Governments of the countries concerned, to service men serving in third countries.