§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many abattoirs in England have gone out of business in the last 12 months.
§ Mr. MacleanAll abattoirs in England and Wales operate under licences granted by local authorities. With the exception of abattoirs approved for intra-Community trade, records are not routinely maintained on the operational status of individual abattoirs. However, annual statistics derived from state veterinary service visits indicate that numbers of non-export abattoirs in England and Wales dropped from some 720 to around 640 in 1990. Of the abattoirs approved for EC exports, two have ceased trading in the last 12 months. We do not have information on the reasons for closure.