14. Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle have been slaughtered in(a) the over-30-months scheme and (b) the accelerated slaughter programme. [2904]
§ Mr. RookerAs at 13 June 1997, 1,494,040 cattle had been slaughtered under the over-30-months scheme, and 6,478 cattle under the Selective Cull Scheme.
§ Mr. DawsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy that relevant hon. Members and local authorities will be consulted over future proposals to store carcases or rendered material from the over-30-months scheme in their constituencies or areas. [2830]
§ Mr. RookerCommission Regulation 716/96, under which the over-30-months scheme (OTMS) operates, expressly prohibits the purchase of animals showing any clinical signs of BSE. BSE suspects are being sent for direct incineration under entirely separate arrangements. Nevertheless, it is now the practice of the Intervention Board, which has executive responsibility for the day to day operation of the OTMS, to consult the Environment Agency and the local authority about the suitability of any dry or tallow storage facilities offered to it for OTMS material. The local Member of Parliament is also informed that these consultations are taking place. Contracts would be let only for stores which comply with the waste management provisions of Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and related Regulations and which have, or where appropriate, are likely to be granted, local authority planning approval which would allow for the storage of meat and bone meal or tallow. No new cold storage facilities for OTMS carcases are under consideration.