HC Deb 12 January 1998 vol 304 cc87-90W
Sir George Young

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from independent butchers about deboning costs. [21376]

Mr. Rooker

A number of organisations consulted about the legislative proposals to require the deboning of all beef, whether from home supplies or imported, coming from cattle over six months old, before it is sold to the consumer, drew attention to the cost of deboning in their responses. Copies of all the responses received and considered before the Beef Bones Regulations 1997 were made have been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Öpik

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that beef labelled as produced in Britain is not merely processed in the United Kingdom. [22441]

Mr. Rooker

The Beef Labelling Scheme, which takes full effect from 31 March 1998 will require retailers and others selling beef to consumers which is labelled "British" to seek prior approval from a competent authority for use of the term. To obtain approval, such operators will have to demonstrate that beef labelled "British" is derived from animals born, reared and slaughtered in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Jack

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library details of the representations he has received from(a) representative bodies and (b) others on his proposals to ban beef on the bone. [22286]

Mr. John Cunningham

Copies of all the responses received and considered following the formal consultation on legislative proposals to require the deboning of all beef, whether from home supplies or imported, coming from cattle over six months old, before it is sold to the consumer, were placed in the Library of the House on 22 December 1997.

Mr. Hogg

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library the advice that he received from Sir Kenneth Calman regarding the health risks posed by beef on the bone. [22494]

Mr. Rooker

A statement by Sir Kenneth Calman in which he outlined his advice to Ministers was published in a press release by the Department of Health on 5 December 1997. As is usual practice, a copy was placed in the Library of the House at the same time.

Mr. Swinney

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he considered to ensure that all beef on the bone products are clearly identified and sold with suitable warnings of the risk of CJD infection; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of such measures as an alternative to the ban on the sale of beef on the bone products. [20505]

Mr. Rooker

We carefully considered the advice which was received from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee on the safety of bone-in beef, including making their assessment public and leaving it for consumers to decide whether or not to continue purchasing such products. Taking account of the views of the Chief Medical Officer, we concluded that further action was necessary on a precautionary basis, and, following consultation with interested organisations, have introduced a prohibition on the sale of bone-in beef products in the Beef Bones Regulations 1997.

Mr. Gill

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action has been taken in other EU countries to regulate the sale of bone-in beef. [21040]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 16 December 1997]: The precautionary action taken in the United Kingdom to prohibit the sale of bone-in beef in the interest of consumer safety, together with the full advice from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, was notified to the European Commission immediately. It was subsequently considered by the Scientific Steering Committee in Brussels who are continuing to review the scientific evidence in the light of their initial assessment. In the meantime, any action in individual Member States is a matter for their authorities. We understand, however, that Belgium is considering a ban on bone-in beef from early in 1998, and the Irish Republic has given a strong warning about the risks of eating bone-in beef to its citizens but taken no further action.

Mr. Gill

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of the ban on bone-in beef upon catering establishments specialising in such products. [21201]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 16 December 1997]: Comments received by the deadline from those consulted, including the catering industry, on the proposed legislation to implement a ban on bone-in beef, were all carefully considered before the Beef Bone Regulations 1997 were made and presented to Parliament. The accompanying Regulatory Appraisal sets out our best assessment of the impact of this legislation on those sectors directly affected, based on the information available to us at the time. A copy is available in the Library of the House, and on the MAFF Internet site.

Mr. Hayes

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he was first notified of SEAC's recommendations on beef on-the-bone. [21608]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 18 December 1997]: My right hon. Friend received SEAC's recommendations on bone-in beef just before 9.00 am on Wednesday 3 December 1997.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that imported beef supplied to schools meets the(a) meat safety and (b) animal welfare standards required of United Kingdom producers. [21603]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 18 December 1997]: The sourcing of food supplied to schools is a matter for the appropriate education authorities and governing bodies. Health provisions concerning the beef available on the British market are set at the EU level, and animal welfare provisions in both EU and Council of Europe measures. From the 1 January 1998, all beef entering the UK food chain is required to meet the UK SRM (specified risk material) controls.

Mr. Swinney

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the advantages of exempting beef from cattle born after 1 August 1996 from the ban on beef on-the-bone; and if he will make a statement. [21598]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 18 December 1997]: Consideration was given to such an exemption. However, as my right hon. Friend indicated in his statement to the House on 3 December 1997, Official Report, columns 372–89, this would give rise to considerable problems of identification and enforcement. We therefore concluded that, to avoid any possibility of errors, mix ups, cheating or confusion, we should follow SEAC advice that all beef from cattle over six months old should be deboned. The position will be kept under review.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide additional money to councils to fund environmental health officers' inspection of butchers' shops, following the ban of beef-on-the-bone. [21675]

Mr. Rooker

There will be no increase in the level of supervision as a result of the prohibition on the sale of bone-in beef contained in the Beef Bones Regulations 1997. Normal levels will continue to apply, although enforcement officers will, in future, be required to check that boning requirements are being met. I therefore see no need to make additional money available to local authorities for this work.