HL Deb 23 June 1999 vol 602 cc100-1WA
The Earl of Lytton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in low throughput slaughterhouses staffed by a single meat hygiene inspector and one official veterinary surgeon who are both present throughout slaughtering hours, they will consider dispensing completely with the services of the inspector and arranging for the official veterinary surgeon to carry out ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections alone. [HL2885]

Lord Donoughue

The Meat Hygiene Service keeps manning levels in slaughterhouses under continual review, in order to ensure the provision of a cost-effective service.

In some low throughput slaughterhouses the service is provided by an official veterinary surgeon and no meat hygiene inspector is present.