HC Deb 01 May 1996 vol 276 c565W
Mr. Heppell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions have been taken out by his Department(a) for abuses of the specified bovine offal regulations and (b) against animal feed manufacturers for not conforming to the animal feed ban in each year since 1989. [26480]

Mrs. Browning

At 8 March 1996, there were 2,827 local veterinary inspectors appointed to inspect and certify farm animals for export. Of these, 50 were appointed between 1 January 1995 and 8 March 1996. Their names will not be disclosed under paragraph 4g of part II of the code of practice on access to Government information.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent reports he has received from the State Veterinary Service concerning mishandling of specified bovine offals in slaughterhouses. [26419]

Mrs. Browning

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for High Peak (Mr. Hendry) on 30 April 1996.

Mr. Prentice

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions have been taken out by his Department(a) for abuses of the specified bovine offal regulations and (b) against animal feed manufacturers for not conforming to the animal feed ban in each year since 1989. [26480]

Mrs. Browning

There is currently one case before the courts for non-compliance with the regulations on specified bovine offals. A number of other cases are under investigation.

There have been no prosecutions by this Department against animal feed manufacturers for not complying with the ruminant protein feed ban.