§ Baroness Whartonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether slaughterhouse owners or operators are entitled to supervise or otherwise check on the activities of their official veterinary surgeons and meat hygiene inspectors as to whether the officials are carrying out official duties on the premises, for which charges are made; and whether official veterinary surgeons can be asked to account for hours worked by filling in timesheets provided by the owners or operators. [HL2874]
§ Lord DonoughueOfficial veterinary surgeons (OVSs) and meat hygiene inspectors (MHIs) derive their authority by virtue of their appointment by Ministers. While slaughterhouse owners or operators can observe and comment on the activities of an OVS or MHI, they cannot formally supervise or otherwise check on their activities: this being the immediate responsibility of the 95WA appropriate principal official veterinary surgeon (POVS).
Should a slaughterhouse owner or operator be dissatisfied with the performance of an OVS or MHI, they are at liberty to take the matter up with either the POVS or the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) regional management team in accordance with the MHS complaints procedure.
OVSs are required to fill in timesheets provided by the MHS so that an accurate calculation of hours worked can be made and an appropriate hygiene charge assessed. This enables the MHS to fulfil its statutory obligation of recovering the costs of providing hygiene inspections.
OVSs cannot be asked to account for hours worked by filling in timesheets provided by slaughterhouse owners or operators, although owners or operators can keep their own records.