§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many approved abattoirs operated within England for each year from 1991. [129266]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonI have been asked to reply.
Abattoirs producing meat for sale for human consumption must be licensed in order to operate. The number of licensed abattoirs in England from 1991 to date is shown in the table.
Year Red meat abattoirs White meat abattoirs 1991 593 98 1992 542 93 1993 434 98 1994 424 137 1995 402 144 1996 384 144 1997 375 131 1998 360 131 1999 339 119 2000 316 111 2001 300 117 2002 297 109 August 2003 286 109