§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to take action to reduce lamb slaughter charges to the EU average level; and if he will make a statement. [101147]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 7 December 1999]: Since these charges relate to the cost of operating the abattoir and providing a slaughtering service, their level is a commercial matter between slaughter house operators and suppliers of lambs. The Government have, however, frozen MHS hourly inspection charges for 1999–2000 at 1998–99 levels—charges which affect the cost of slaughtering all species, including lamb.