§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received regarding the cost of removal of offal from abattoirs and knackers' yards; and if he will make a statement. [9597]
§ Dr. Jack CunninghamI have received representations from across the meat supply/disposal chain, from representatives of producers to those of renderers, about the costs of disposal of animal by-products. These generally supported the continuation of Government financial support to the rendering industry.
I and my agricultural ministerial colleagues have considered the representations put to us very carefully. Having taken into account the impact on the meat industry of withdrawing support, the original purpose of the support and the considerable additional cost of extending it, for which we have no provision in our public expenditure plans, we have concluded that the support should be phased out, as already provided for, by the end of 1997–98 within the existing spending limit of £59 million.
I am today writing to the president of the NFU and to other industry organisations informing them of our conclusions.