§ Mr. Patrick ThompsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he proposes to allocate the 34 mecu of aid for United Kingdom beef farmers agreed by the Agriculture Council at its meeting on 24 to 26 June; and if he will make a statement. [40045]
§ Mr. Douglas HoggAgriculture Ministers have agreed to distribute this money to beef producers in respect of the number of adult clean cattle marketed in the period 20 March to 30 June for slaughter for human
April 1996 May 1996 June 1996 Number of visits Number of unsatisfactory visits Percentage unsatisfactory Number of visits Number of unsatisfactory visits Percentage unsatisfactory Number of visits Number of unsatisfactory visits Percentage unsatisfactory Slaughterhouses 281 4 1.4 313 0 0 268 2 0.7 Hunt kennels and knackeries 265 9 3.4 248 13 5.2 213 4 1.9 Rendering plants1 13 0 0 10 0 0 11 1 9.1 Incinerators1 27 1 3.7 32 1 3.1 24 4 16.7 1 Rendering plants and incinerators have to be specifically approved to handle SBOs; only a small number of such plants are so approved. These results demonstrate an overall continuing trend of improvement in the handling of SBMs since the intensive surveillance programme began in September 1995.
It is disappointing that deficiencies continue to be found in small numbers of premises, and pressure is being maintained to improve the situation. However, the majority of the failings in SBM handling found were relatively mild, for example, problems with staining or with record keeping, which would not present a direct risk to public or animal health. There have been no instances of the most serious failing, of leaving spinal cord attached to carcases, since March 1996.
The Meat Hygiene Service is responsible for enforcing the SBM controls in slaughterhouses in Great Britain. The agency has developed detailed new protocols for the application of SBM controls. It has also established arrangements for specific refresher training on SBM controls for all inspection staff, and introduced a programme of SBM audit to ensure that SBM controls are 626W consumption. We plan to issue forms to producers in the week beginning 5 August and begin payments in late September. Payments will be at a flat rate per animal, to be set once the number of valid claims has been determined. Firm evidence that the animals concerned were on their holding before 20 March and were marketed for slaughter no later than 30 June will be required. In addition to the £29 million—34 mecu—available to farmers under this one-off measure, supplementary payments worth up to £81 million will be made to farmers who received suckler cow and beef special premium for the 1995 scheme years. I welcome the further assistance that will thus be given to hard-pressed beef producers.