HC Deb 20 March 1997 vol 292 cc726-7W
Mr. Luff

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what targets have been set for the Meat Hygiene Service for 1997–98. [21631]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and I have set the following targets for the Meat Hygiene Service in 1997–98.

  • Operational
    1. 1. To take all necessary measures to ensure full compliance by the slaughterhouse industry with The Specified Bovine Material Order 1977, The Heads of Sheep and Goats Order 1996, and other related Statutory Instruments.
  • Quality and Delivery of Service
    1. 2. To carry out, in collaboration with the State Veterinary Service, a review of the guidance on HAS scoring in abattoirs as set out in the Operations Manual by 30 April 1997.
    2. 3. To ensure that all MHS contract and employed OVS, Meat Hygiene Inspectors and Meat Technicians have completed a formal training programme in hygiene by 31 July 1997.
    3. 4. To ensure that by the end of 1997–98 at least 90 per cent. of abattoirs are achieving HAS scores of more than 65.
    4. 5. To implement strictly the MHS clean livestock strategy included in the Operations Manual as revised in March 1997.
    5. 6. To implement a strict prohibition on carcases showing any faecal contamination being health marked for human consumption.
  • Financial Performance
    1. 7. To recover from plant operators the full economic cost (calculated in accordance with the relevant charging legislation and accruals accounting and Industry charges guide) of providing the statutory health inspection and controls at fresh meat premises.
    2. 8. To recover from Government Departments, Agencies and the Intervention Board the full economic cost (calculated in accordance with the relevant charging legislation and accruals accounting) of providing agreed services or other work undertaken on their behalf.
    3. 9. To operate within the net cash allocation as agreed during the year by the MAFF Management Board.