§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many inspectors will be required to implement the Poultry (Meat) Hygiene Regulations under EEC Directives 71/118 and 75/431; and what plans he has for the training of these additional personnel;
(2) if he is aware that in East Anglia 40 inspectors will be needed to implement the poultry hygiene regulations made under EEC directives 71/118 and 75/431, that the training courses proposed by Norwich City College have not received approval from the Royal Society of Health and that unless such approval is given, not later than 31st May, local authorities will not be able to recruit and train the necessary additional inspectors and therefore will be unable to discharge the statutory duty that is to be laid upon them from January 1977; and what steps 495W he proposes to take to resolve this problem.
§ Mr. StrangAs I told the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 22nd March—[Vol. 908, c. 7.—we estimate that by August 1979 some 800–900 poultry meat inspectors will be needed. Initial requirements will be very much smaller. I am in consultation with local authority associations and the Local Authorities' Conditions of Service Advisory Board, as well as with the Royal Society of Health and the poultry industry, on the further steps needed to facilitate the recruitment and training of these staff.