§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the locations of all the cold stores in the United Kingdom where BSE-confirmed cattle carcases have been stored or are being stored, giving for each cold store the number of BSE-confirmed carcases which have been stored there in each year; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement about the legislative conditions imposed upon the storage of BSE-confirmed carcases in cold stores.
§ Mr. GummerBSE carcases are stored for short periods only prior to transportation to incineration plants and at the plants to even out the flow to the incinerators.
There are two dedicated storage centres in the United Kingdom, both in Devon. These centres are used only for BSE carcases. They are operating within local authority regulations and are bound by contractual conditions with the Ministry. The throughput of carcases at these centres is strictly controlled and regular inspections are carried out by the state veterinary service.
In addition to these centres refrigerated lorries are also sometimes used (in Staffordshire, Shropshire, Leicestershire, Lancashire and Derbyshire) for temporary storage while awaiting full loads for transportation.
Information on the number of carcases stored is not available.