§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether poultry meat inspection charges are levied at the same rate across the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. SoamesThe Fresh Meat and Poultry Meat (Hygiene, Inspection and Examinations for Residues) (Charges) Regulations 1990 (SI 1990 No. 2494) require local authorities to charge for health inspection at poultry meat plants. Subject to compliance with the detailed provisions of the regulations, local authorities are entitled to recover the real costs incurred in carrying out the inspection.
The Department carried out a detailed review of meat inspection charges in early 1992 which revealed that inspection charges varied considerably across the country. My right hon. Friend the Minister placed summary statistics collected during this review in the Library of the House in June 1992. (Hansard cols. 16–17, 8 June 1992.)