§ Mr. DawsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 15 January 1998,Official Report, column 294, in what circumstances firms would be permitted to contract privately with farmers to incinerate over thirty month cattle carcases without reference to the Intervention Board executive agency. [26246]
§ Mr. RookerCompensation for farmers disposing of cattle over thirty months old, apart from those suspected of having BSE for which separate arrangements apply, is available only through the over-30-months scheme run by the Intervention Board. Incineration of OTMS carcases is permissible only under the control and supervision of the board at premises contracted for the purpose.
The Intervention Board has terminated the restricted stage of its tender as far as the incineration only element is concerned so that it can pursue options more likely to meet its large scale disposal requirements. However, it will continue to contract, as and when the need arises, with incinerator operators who have properly authorised 350W and licensed facilities for the disposal of carcases of animals slaughtered on farm and offered to the scheme as casualties, usually via the helpline run for the board by the Licensed Animal Slaughterers and Salvage Association.