§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent studies his Department has made of the average cost of slaughtering a lamb in an abattoir in each of the EU member states; and if he will make a statement. [153267]
§ Ms Stuart[holding answer 12 March 2001]: I have been asked to reply.
The Department has undertaken no such studies. Slaughter costs reflect a number of factors, including size and efficiency of operations, and are therefore commercial matters.