§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many inspectors are currently employed to carry out dairy inspections;
(2) what system there is of monitoring dairy inspections.
(3) whether he will review the workings of the dairy inspections procedure.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe complement of the dairy husbandry discipline of ADAS is currently 103 and there are 91 officers actually in post. Of these, 72 dairy husbandary advisers undertake visits to dairy farms to check compliance with the milk and dairies regulations, but other duties (such as advisory work) account for about half of their time. The work of these advisers is monitored by their line managers and is also subject to regular staff inspection. In addition, as I told my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett) on 26 January at column175, there is to be a formal efficiency scrutiny of this work.