§ Dr. John Cunninghamasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why his Department has not replied to letters from the chief environmental health officer of Copeland borough council dated 3 November 1981, 23 November 1981 and 14 January 1982 concerning a new abattoir at Whitehaven; when the council will receive a reply; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerMy Department has received two letters from the chief environmental health officer dated 3 November 1981 and 14 January 1982. I regret that a written reply was not sent earlier but this has now been done. Before that, however, my Department had indicated to the environmental health department of the borough council that it was in correspondence with the manufacturers of the slaughtering unit with a view to agreeing how the technical objections might be overcome. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary explained the situation in detail to the hon. Member in her letter of 18 February.