§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of approved abattoirs operating within England for each year from 1975 to date. [1572]
§ Mr. RookerAt 1 June 1997 there were 381 licensed red meat slaughterhouses in England. The table below gives figures for each year from 1975 to 1996. Prior to 1993 red meat slaughterhouses in England were licensed not by MAFF but by local authorities. The figures for 1975 to 1992 have therefore been derived from records of State Veterinary Service visits during each year and are approximate.
536W
Year Numbers 1975 1,385 1976 1,320 1977 1,280 1978 1,145 1979 975 1980 960 1981 910 1982 840 1983 875 1984 860 1985 850 1986 815 1987 795 1988 780 1989 690 1990 645 1991 595 1992 1540 19932 434 19942 424 19952 402 19962 384 1 At the end of 1992, 455 applications had been made to MAFF for licences under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992. 2 As at 31 December.