§ Mr. CurryTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of(a) the backlog of cattle awaiting slaughter under the over-30-months scheme as a result of the reduction in the number of designated abattoirs and (b) the total loss to farmers through being unable to get cattle slaughtered before the new price and weight regime applies in August. [11252]
116W
Dr. John CunninghamThere is no backlog of over-30-months scheme cattle awaiting slaughter as a result of the reduction in the number of abattoirs. In the months of July and August, around 15,000 over-30-months cattle are normally slaughtered each week, and the Intervention Board has made available the capacity to handle 16,000 OTMS cattle a week in the scheme abattoirs.
The reduction in the rate of compensation and the introduction of a weight limit, which are effective from 4 August, has resulted in significantly increased demand for the scheme because some farmers have brought forward their cull plans to try and benefit from the existing compensation arrangements. The Intervention Board has increased the amount of scheme slaughtering capacity by around 20 per cent. in the two weeks immediately preceding the rate change to assist producers, and has also issued instructions to scheme abattoirs to ensure, as far as possible, that producers are treated equitably and fairly. It is inevitable that some producers will be disappointed, but it would have been self-defeating for the Government to support a reduction in the scheme rate, and at the same time, take steps to minimise the number of cattle adversely affected by it.
The effect of the change in the scheme rate and the introduction of a weight restriction will reduce the return for a dairy cow weighting 560 kg by around £40, and for a suckler cow weighing 620 kg by around £80.
§ Mr. CurryTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many abattoirs are authorised in England and Wales to carry out slaughtering of cattle under the over-30-months scheme; and if he will list the abattoirs which charge for haulage and the amounts charged in each case. [11246]
Dr. CunninghamFollowing a recent tender, the Intervention Board has let contracts to 22 abattoirs in England and Wales to slaughter animals under the over-30-months scheme. The contracted abattoirs collectively carry more than sufficient capacity for the number of animals expected to enter the scheme, with reserve capacity available to deal with seasonal fluctuations.
The fee paid to the abattoirs covers the slaughter and subsequent dressing of the animals to the agency's specification, and the administration costs involved in handling OTMS animals. It does not include the cost of transporting cattle to the point of slaughter, which remains the responsibility of the farmer. Most abattoirs provide a chargeable service, on request.
Information about these charges is currently being collated as part of the contract process and the chief executive of the Intervention Board will write to the right hon. Member shortly to provide the information requested.