§ The Earl of Lyttonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether licensed meat or cutting plant operators are required by law to bear the costs of providing telephones in offices allocated for the use of official veterinary surgeons; and whether they are obliged to pay for calls made by official veterinary surgeons in the course of their duties. [HL2887]
§ Lord DonoughueThe Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/539) require that the occupier of licensed premises
102WAshall ensure that an OVS, inspector or veterinary officer is provided with adequate facilities so as to enable him to carry out his duties under these Regulations and that he is given such reasonable assistance … as he may from time to time require for that purpose".Our legal interpretation is that this should include the provision of reasonable office accommodation, and the use of a telephone, where this is necessary to enable the official to carry out his responsibilities under the Regulations.
Where the cost of telephone calls made by OVSs in the course of their duties relates to the meat inspection and welfare exercise at the relevant plant, we believe that the cost of such calls should fall to the plant operator as it constitutes part of what we consider to be the provision of "adequate facilities".