§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish comparisons of charges made to ensure public health in respect of slaughter processing in the United Kingdom and in other EU states. [58446]
§ Mr. Nick BrownI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 17 November 1998,Official Report, column 577.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish comparisons of the amounts of state subsidy given to farmers and abattoirs in EU countries for meat inspection. [58447]
§ Mr. Nick BrownIn Great Britain the meat industry pays the full cost of the hygiene/welfare inspections carried out by the Meat Hygiene Service in licensed meat plants. However, the Government currently meet the cost of enforcing SRM controls in licensed slaughterhouses having announced on 25 February that these would not be recovered from industry from 1 April 1998 as had been planned.
So far as other EU Member States are concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) on 9 November 1998, Official Report, column 104.