§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the slaughterhouses in Great Britain have full-time veterinary supervision during their hours of operation. [44237]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 8 June 1998]: The Meat Hygiene Service (an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) is responsible for the enforcement of meat hygiene, inspection and animal-welfare-at-slaughter legislation in slaughterhouses licensed under the meat hygiene regulations in Great Britain.
In most slaughterhouses, an MHI or OVS is present during the slaughterhouse operating hours, although in some small slaughterhouses this will not always be the case. The precise length of time spent in slaughterhouses 533W by an OVS will depend on several factors including the size and throughput of the premises, the complexity and standard of hygiene of operations, and the type of animal being slaughtered. However, no meat intended for sale for human consumption may leave any licensed slaughterhouse until it has been subjected to apost mortem inspection by an MHI, under the supervision of the OVS, has been passed as fit for human consumption, and been duly heath marked.
There are 31 full-throughput and 7 low-throughput licensed slaughterhouses in Great Britain with full-time veterinary supervision (ie full-time presence of a qualified veterinarian duringante mortem andpost mortem inspections).
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many slaughterhouse operators were prosecuted in 1997 for failure to observe the statutory provisions about welfare at slaughter; and how many official warnings were given in 1997 about failure to comply with those statutory provisions. [44238]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 8 June 1998]: Three slaughterhouse operators were prosecuted in 1997 in respect of offences under the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995. These Regulations do not provide for the issue of statutory warning notices and enforcement action may be verbal or written. Information on enforcement other than prosecution is not held centrally. Where possible, Official Veterinary Surgeons will act on the spot to correct problems. Evidence of cruelty or persistent disregard of welfare will result in prosecution action being taken.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is the policy of the Government to permit the export of slaughter pigs to Spain only where the authorities in Spain have confirmed that the slaughterhouse of destination complies fully with EU provisions relating to the welfare of animals at slaughter; and if he will make a statement. [44297]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 8 June 1998]: The Department has maintained the list, first established at the beginning of 1993, of slaughterhouses confirmed by the Spanish authorities as meeting Community welfare requirements. This would enable us to consider the position carefully if slaughter animals of any species were shown on a route plan as destined for a slaughterhouse not on the list.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Dr. Palmer) of 5 May 1998,Official Report, columns303–04, concerning live animal exports, if all the sheep exported to Spain for slaughter in 1997 were subsequently declared on the route plans as being transported to slaughterhouses notified to him by the Spanish authorities as complying with EU provisions on welfare at slaughter; and if he will make a statement. [44298]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 8 June 1998]: Yes, save in two instances where failure to return a route plan was recorded for future consideration in relation to the exporter's authorisation to operate. Once route plans have been returned, they are available to help establish whether 534W a false declaration has been made in the event that evidence emerges from any source that the journey details may have been other than as declared.