§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what consultation his Department had with abattoirs in the north west region prior to announcing the recent increase in veterinary inspection fees;
(2) what recent representations he has received from farmers in the north west region about increases in veterinary inspection fees and their impact upon competition in the meat trade.
§ Mr. SoamesConsultation took place earlier this year with interested parties, including organisations representing the interests of abattoirs and farmers, on the proposed Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992, in accordance with section 48 of the Food Safety Act 1990.
In the last five months the Department has received seven letters from Members of Parliament within its northern region about veterinary inspection costs. One of these concerned representations from two farmers. We have received no direct representations from farmers in 618W northern region about increases in veterinary inspection fees and their impact on competition in the meat trade, but a number of representations have been made by other interests including abattoir owners and livestock auctioneers.
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much in both cash and percentage terms veterinary inspection fees for abattoirs have recently been increased; what was the reason for that increase; upon what basis the fees for individual abattoirs are calculated: what estimate he has made of the net effect in overall annual average payments of such fees in both cash and percentage terms for an average-sized abattoir; what form the notification of the recent increase in veterinary inspection fees took to individual abattoirs; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesVeterinary inspection fees are charged to abattoirs under the Fresh Meat and Poultry Meat (Hygiene, Inspection and Examinations for Residues) (Charges) Regulations 1990, which provide for the recovery of costs incurred by local authorities in providing for inspection and supervision of abattoirs. Detailed information on charges for individual abattoirs is not available, but work carried out by independent consultants earlier this year on behalf of this Department estimated the cost of implementing the supervision requirements in the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992 as £33 million per annum, compared with £25 million previously. Both figures are based on 1991 costs and slaughterhouse numbers. The additional cost of veterinary supervision in medium-sized slaughterhouses was estimated to represent £5.4 million of this increase. However, we estimate that the guidance on veterinary supervision levels issued by the Department on 30 November would reduce this to £3.4 million. A copy of this guidance was placed in the Library of the House.
Local authorities are required to consult abattoir operators about the proposed charges at individual premises and to consider any representations made by the operator before determining the amount of the charge.
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what implications the decisions taken at the Edinburgh summit in connection with the principle of subsidiarity have for the arrangements and fees for veterinary inspection of abattoirs; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesThe basic principles and guidelines on subsidiarity which were agreed by the Edinburgh Council will apply to future Community action on the arrangements and fees for veterinary inspection of abattoirs, and in particular to Community discussions on proposals for amending EC directive 85/73 on the harmonisation of inspection costs.