§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many slaughterhouses have closed since 1 January 1993 on the grounds that they did not meet the structural requirements of directive 91/497/EEC. [27863]
§ Mrs. BrowningNo figures are available to show how many slaughterhouses have closed since 1 January 1993 on the ground that they did not meet the structural requirements of directive 91/497/EEC. Slaughterhouses can close for a number of reasons, including commercial pressures arising from the significant overcapacity in the red meat slaughtering industry. In addition, if one operator decides to close, the premises may be taken over by another.