HC Deb 08 July 1996 vol 281 cc90-1W
Mr. Gill

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which organisations have been consulted by his Department regarding the situation in the meat and livestock industry. [28117]

Mrs. Browning

MAFF Ministers and officials have consulted, and continue to consult, organizations representing every part of the meat and livestock industry, including producers, consumer groups, breed societies, livestock exporters, feed manufacturers, welfare organisations, the veterinary profession, scientists, the medical profession, local authorities, the Commission, other member states, abattoirs, cutting plants, cold stores, meat exporters, renderers, retailers, wholesalers, caterers, economists, hauliers, livestock auction markets, tenants, landowners, the Meat and Livestock Commission, the banking industry and research establishments. Recent consultation papers laid in the Library of the House will indicate the names of those organisations consulted.

Mr. Welsh

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the cost of the slaughter of cattle of five years old and above in herds in Scotland which have had an incidence of BSE. [23364]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 28 March 1996]: It is estimated that there is somewhere in the order of 149,144 animals in Scotland in herds which have an incidence of BSE and are five years old or above. Slaughtering animals alone at a cost of about £50 head would cost around £7.5 million. More substantial would be the economic costs to the meat and dairy industries and compensation to farmers for loss of stock and replacement.

Mr. McKelvey

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if meat now entering the United Kingdom has had removed all the bovine offals required to be removed in United Kingdom production. [24216]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 2 April 1996]: Although some other countries have introduced similar controls to the UK, prohibiting the sale of bovine offals for human consumption, this is not a pre-condition of importation into the UK. However, imports of beef from animals aged over 30 months are currently prohibited except from 14 countries outside the EU where there have been no recorded cases of BSE.