§ Mr. MerchantTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial support will be provided to the rendering industry and knackers yards in the financial year 1996–97. [24467]
§ Mr. Douglas HoggRendering plants and associated trades are vital service industries, without which UK animal production cannot take place. In the absence of these industries, it is likely that animal waste would be unlawfully buried or dumped, leading to unacceptable health and environmental risks.
In view both of the ban on the use of mammalian meat-and-bone meal in feed for all farm animals and of current market conditions, it is proposed to provide temporary financial assistance to rendering plants of up to £118 million in the financial year 1996– 97. My officials are preparing detailed proposals on the operation of this support.
Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in a supplementary estimate for class III, vote 2 (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: operational expenditure, agencies and departmental administration). Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £40 million will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.