§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list, on a regional basis, the number of slaughterhouses which are to close as a result of their inability to comply with EEC regulation 177 which became operative on 11 May 1978.
§ Mr. StrangI think that the hon. Member has in mind the Slaughterhouses (Hygiene) Regulations 1977, many of the provisions of which came into operation on 11 May 1978. Other provisions, which could involve appreciable structural changes, will become compulsory only on 11 November 1980 for slaughterhouses in operation before 11 May 1978. The regulations apply to all slaughterhouses in England and Wales and do not arise from an EEC obligation. The previous hygiene regulations had served since 1958 with only minor amendment and the objective of the 1977 regulations was to raise 27W standards in the interests of hygiene and public health. Slaughterhouses have been declining in number for some years for various reasons; my Department does not receive returns indicating the reasons for closures.