HC Deb 18 July 1996 vol 281 cc617-8W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each occasion in the last two months in which his Department has consulted fanners directly about policy development concerning the BSE and beef crisis; and if he will make a statement. [37363]

Mr. Michael Forsyth

During May to July my Department has consulted directly with the beef industry on the following specific occasions:

  • 3 May: Mature beef assurance scheme
  • 6 June: Proposals for compulsory cattle passports
  • 10 June: Mammalian meat and bonemeal—proposed legislation (The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Amendment) (No 2) Order 1996)
  • 11 June: specified bovine material controls in abattoirs
  • 3 July: BSE accelerated slaughter scheme
  • 10 July: meat and bone meal proposed legislation
  • 11 July: Mammalian meat and bonemeal—proposed legislation (The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Amendment) (No 2) Order 1996)

Where direct consultation with individual farmers is not possible, my Department works closely with the main representative bodies involved in the industry. I am particularly appreciative of the way in which the industry in Scotland has been co-operating throughout the BSE crisis. Individual beef producers are kept abreast of developments, through the regular newsletter distributed by my Department.

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