§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to extend the rebate given on meat inspector costs. [21100]
§ Mrs. BrowningWe have been considering how best to deploy the transitional assistance on meat hygiene service charges announced in the answer given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Atkinson) on 29 March,Official Report, columns 653–54, so as to assist the widest possible range of premises within the funds available. The MHS is now consulting plant operators on the following proposed reductions in its charges:
Charges for Official Veterinary Surgeons' normal time to be capped at £35 per hour at all plants for this financial yearCharges for Meat Inspectors' normal time to be reduced by £1 per hour at all plants for this financial yearA rebate equivalent to £1 per hour off Meat Inspectors' normal time after the end of the first two quarters of 1995–96 (i.e. in July and October 1995) to all plants, subject to the need to observe the requirements of European legislation which prohibits the subsidisation of inspection charges below the level of the Community Standard charge in the case of slaughterhouses.Final decisions on these proposed charges will not be taken until after the end of the statutory consultation process. The charges would be subject to review in consultation with the Industry Forum—the consultative body which the MHS has set up to discuss issues with the industry—after the first six months of this financial year to see whether there was any further flexibility within the funds available to make any other adjustments for the remainder of the year.