§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the framework document and performance targets for the Meat Hygiene Service. [18395]
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe Meat Hygiene Service will be launched on 1 April as an executive agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. I am arranging for copies of its framework document to be placed in the Library of the House.
My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and I have set the following targets for the Meat Hygiene Service in 1995–96.
Financial Performance
To recover from plant operators the full economic costs of providing the statutory health inspection and controls at fresh meat premises, taking account of any transitional financial arrangements which Ministers may agree.To recover from Government Departments and agencies the full economic costs of providing agreed services or other work undertaken on their behalf.To comply with budgetary controls resulting from PES and the Supply Estimates.Efficiency
To work from the outset for gains in efficiency inter alia by:(a) minimising the total number of hours and the associated costs of meat inspector and OVS time required to operate the service to the standards laid down and taking steps to adjust staffing levels wherever possible following the completion by end October 1995 of the audit of standards and staffing levels in all full throughout plants;(b) holding overhead costs in 1995–96 within a limit of £8.115 million (before deduction of income from services provided to central Government).Note: On this basis the MHS will deliver in 1995–96 an efficiency gain of approximately 10 per cent. in relation to the estimated total costs in 1994–95, and will establish a firm base for further gains in efficiency in future years.Quality and Delivery of Service
To apply hygiene requirements in such a way as to raise levels of compliance by slaughterhouses and cutting premises progressively by: 851W
- (a) establishing a baseline in terms of HAS score where this has not already been done;
- (b) in red meat slaughterhouses fully approved on 30 September 1995 which had a score of less than 65 at the last inspection by the state veterinary service in 1994–95, working with plant management to raise HAS scores by at least an average of 10 points by the end of 1995–96.
To complete a welfare audit by the plant OVS of all licensed slaughterhouses, and agree with plant management a timetable for any necessary corrective action, by the end of November 1995. To meet the standards laid down in the MHS customer service statement.