§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has, and over what period, to increase the rendering capacity available to Welsh abattoirs; and if he will make a statement. [29609]
§ Mr. BaldryThere are currently three Welsh abattoirs involved in the over-thirty-month scheme and the scheme carcasses from these are being processed by three approved rendering plants. Renderers are working to a national plan agreed by the industry through the United Kingdom Renderers Association. The industry is currently processing about 28,000 scheme animals each week and hopes to improve on this through the introduction of extra capacity which indirectly will be of benefit to all abattoirs, including Welsh ones, through the national plan.