§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list of abattoirs in Britain, indicating which were inspected by his Department or its agents; how many times, and on what dates.
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§ Mr. Donald ThompsonIn 1987, the most recent year for which figures are available, each exporting abattoir received an average of nine visits from officials of my Department and each non-exporting abattoir an average of two visits. Further details could be provided only at disproportionate cost to public funds.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list of abattoirs in Britain, indicating which are acceptable sources for meat and meat produce exports to other countries of the European Economic Community and which are not.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI am placing in the Library of the House a list of all slaughterhouses in England and Wales which identifies those approved for the production of meat for export to other member states of the European Community.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how any enforcement actions were taken in each year since 1980 to ensure that his standards for the conduct of abattoirs are met; how many of these enforcement actions involved prosecution; and what proportion of the total number of abattoirs were subject to such enforcement actions in each year since 1980.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonEnforcement of slaughterhouse hygiene legislation is the responsibility of local authorities. No records of enforcement actions are collected.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the standards and guidance given for the running of abattoirs.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe hygiene and inspection standards applicable to abattoirs in England and Wales are set out in the Food Act 1984 and the following secondary legislation:
- The Slaughterhouse Hygiene Regulations 1977 as amended SI 1977 No. 1805, SI 1987 No. 2235
- The Meat Inspection Regulations 1987 SI 1987 No, 2236
- The Fresh Meat Export (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1987 SI 1987 No. 2237
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of his Department's staff, full-time equivalent, were involved in the supervision of abattoirs in each year since 1980.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonOfficers of my Department visit all abattoirs to advise on hygiene and welfare standards and, in relation to exporting premises, to ensure that Community requirements are observed. The manpower involved, for the years for which figures are available, was:
Years 1983–84 53 man 1984–85 52 man 1985–86 56 man 1986–87 45 man 1987–88 45 man