§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of man years of his staff involved in advising on hygiene and welfare standards in abattoirs from 1983 onwards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerLocal authorities are responsible for enforcing legislation on hygiene and welfare at abattoirs. Officers 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 each year since 1983–84 was as follows:
Man-years 1983–84 53 1984–85 52 1985–86 56 1986–87 45 1987–88 45 For subsequent years, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 15 March at column 323.
It is planned to devote additional resources to this work as the industry prepares for the single market.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now received the report on general conditions of the visit by European Community inspectors to 14 slaughterhouses in March 1989; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerI have nothing further to add to the reply that I gave the hon. Member on 22 March at columns736–38 and the letter that I sent to him on 23 April.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the slaughterhouses that 557W were visited by European Community inspectors in March 1989 and 1990; if he will indicate those which had their approvals suspended; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerEuropean Community inspectors visited the following slaughterhouses in England and Wales in March 1989 and 1990:
March 1989
England Wales Slaughterhouse (EWS) numbers 8, 23, 32, 44, 53, 60, 77 and 103.March 1990
EWS 33.
On the question of suspensions, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 23 July.