§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions he has cancelled registration of dairy farmers because of their failure to comply with the Milk and Dairies (General) Regulations 1959 in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe information requested is as follows:
Occasions 1980 24 1981 27 1982 10 1983 13 1984 15 1985 27 1986 18 1987 17 1988–89 18 1989–90 15 Note: The basis on which this information is held changed from calendar to financial years on I April 1988.
Registrations are cancelled in cases where dairy farmers fail to rectify contraventions of the regulations noted on hygiene inspection visits. The regulations provide for dairy farmers to be given an opportunity to make representations and/or objections to a notice of intention by the Minister to cancel their registration. Objections must be referred to an independent tribunal whose report must be taken into account by the Minister in making his final decision.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his dairy officers make unannounced on the spot checks of dairy farms; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerRoutine inspections of dairy farms to check on compliance with Milk and Dairies (General) Regulations 1959 are in most cases made by appointment. However, unannounced inspections are carried out if there is reason to believe that hygiene conditions on a dairy farm may be unsatisfactory. In addition, where a first inspection indicates that hygiene conditions are unsatisfactory, an unannounced follow-up visit normally takes place to check that the problems identified have been rectified.