§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the general conclusions of the European Community inspector's current visits to abattoirs in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI will ensure that the hon. Member receives a copy of the letter which will be sent to all operators of export approved plants summarising the main points of the 1989 inspection visit.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to his answer of 8 March, Official Report, column533–4, how many of the abattoirs which received suspension warnings in each year since 1982 subsequently received suspensions in the same year.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe number of plants which received warnings and subsequently were suspended within a year is as follows:
Number 1982 1 1983 4 1984 — 1985 9 1986 6 1987 8 1988 1 Suspension warnings specify a period within which the deficiencies must be rectified. Where changes to practices are required the period may be one or two weeks. For structural work up to six months may be permitted, depending on the work required and its urgency. Exceptionally, the Ministry may grant a further extension of the time for structural work if satisfied with the progress which is being made.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what inspection of animals is carried out in non-European Community approved abattoirs prior to slaughter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe feeding to ruminants of animal protein derived from ruminants has been prohibited. The prohibition will remain unless and until it is possible to identify processing methods which are capable of destroying the agent which causes bovine spongiform encephalopathy and which are widely available.