§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
- (a) What monitoring schemes are in place to check that the stipulated physical checks on meat imports happen as instructed at each place of entry to the United Kingdom;
- (b) What records of such checks are kept and in what form; and
- (c) Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the records for the last six months for each port and airport in England. [HL4609]
§ Lord Whitty(a) Border inspection posts (BIPs) are required to make monthly returns to Defra indicating the number of consignments received and what checks 99WA have been carried out on them. The Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission carries out frequent inspections of border inspection posts to ensure they are operating to the required standards. We are currently finalising arrangements under which staff of the State Veterinary Service will inspect BIPs on a regular basis and will ensure that the correct levels of checks are applied.
(b) A detailed record of checks carried out is held at the BIP. This record includes the number of documentary, identity and physical checks carried out and the number of consignments sampled and rejected. These records can be held electronically or on paper.
(c) A table detailing the number of physical checks on meat carried out by BIPs in England from October 2001 to March 2002 is being prepared and will be placed in the Library of the House when available.