§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has made to improve participation within the Date-Based Export Scheme. [85132]
§ Mr. RookerI expect uptake of the Date-based Export Scheme (DBES) to be low initially. The condition under which exports may resume are very strict: we can only change them in further negotiations and it is the Government's view that we must first show that we can operate the scheme as it stands. There are a few slaughterhouses which want to participate. My officials have been discussing with these slaughterhouses how the scheme might work for them, and will talk with any others which are interested. After we have seen and considered the report of Commission's April inspection of our DBES procedures, we will be writing to the slaughterhouses with details of the Scheme and an invitation to apply for participation or further information.