HC Deb 08 June 1998 vol 313 cc451-2W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will issue guidance

£
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
Simplified Scheme1 857,573 962,047 1,257,807 1,174,990 1,064,093
Main Scheme:
Cereals 17,558,515 24,991,146 36,871,045 38,482,551 37,831,102
Oilseeds 4,319,060 4,272,686 4,818,064 4,834,745 5,999,961
Proteins 6,026,268 4,244,039 3,771,947 3,269,814 3,202,411
Linseed 2— 1,384,788 1,376,113 1,052,701 1,803,395
Set-aside 6,864,098 9,367,276 9,281,101 7,343,384 4,152,753
1 All eligible crops under the Simplified Scheme are paid at the cereals rate
2 In 1993 linseed growers received subsidy under the linseed subsidy scheme but this cannot be broken down by county

Subsidy was also paid on hemp as follows:

Year £
1993 7,090
1994 79,241
1995 176,484
1996 125,638
1997 234,432
as to arrangements for the reporting of acts of intimidation by abattoir employers and owners against Meat Hygiene Service staff and veterinarians. [43376]

Mr. Rooker

Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) operational staff (Official Veterinary Surgeons, Meat Hygiene Inspectors and Meat Technicians) have been instructed to inform their Senior Managers immediately of any instances of intimidation which prevent them from carrying out their duties to protect public health. A confidential helpline has been set up to assist any MHS employee who feels intimidated or subject to threatening behaviour from plant operators or employees.

Information on prosecutions relating to instances of intimidation, obstruction and aggression against MHS staff is published in the Meat Hygiene Enforcement Report, a copy of which is placed in the Library of the House each month.

All successful prosecutions relating to acts against MHS staff will be published immediately via a separate Press Notice.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many slaughterhouses there are in Great Britain; and how many of these slaughter(a) poultry, (b) pigs, (c) cattle and (d) horses. [44236]

Mr. Rooker

At 1 May, there were 607 slaughterhouses in Great Britain licensed to produce meat for sale for human consumption. Of these, 153 were licensed to slaughter poultry, 310 pigs, 399 cattle and 12 horses. Licences are generally not required for slaughterhouses with an annual production of less than 10,000 birds for sale for human consumption.