§ Mr. GallieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for an assessment of hygiene standards in Scottish abattoirs.
§ Sir Hector MonroThe hygiene assessment carried out on behalf of my Department covers five specific aspects of abattoir operations. These are ante-mortem inspection, slaughter and dressing, personnel and practices, maintenance and hygiene of premises and general condition and management.
Hygiene standards in Scottish abattoirs are generally good, although my Department is making specific efforts to encourage those with lower scores to improve their standards. The table shows the results recorded at the latest inspection visit to each slaughterhouse in Scotland for the period ending November 1994.
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Numbers by category of slaughterhouses Scores band All Scottish abattoirs Full EC approval Low-throughput1 Temporary derogated2 21–30 0 0 0 0 31–40 0 0 0 0 41–50 0 0 0 0 51–60 10 4 1 5 61–70 16 11 4 1 71–80 16 12 1 3 81–90 5 4 1 0 91–100 1 0 0 1 1Throughput = 20 livestock units, or less, per week.2 Abattoirs operating under workplan to upgrade to the structural standards laid down in the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992. Completion of work is required by 31 December 1995.