§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received on the cost burden that faces the UK meat industry in comparison with other EU countries; and if he will make a statement. [110534]
§ Ms QuinA large number of representations has been received from Members of Parliament, industry organisations, individual meat plant operators, farmers, consumers and others about the cost burden facing the UK meat industry in comparison with that in other member states.
21WThe Government have, on a number of occasions, made clear to the European Commission its concerns over the lack of transparency in the charging arrangements applied in other member states and itsdoubts as to whether such charges are being set on a common basisthroughout the European Union, in accordance with Community Law.
We have passed to the Commission copies of both our own survey of meat inspection charges in other member states and the Meat and Livestock Commission's report on meat inspection charges and other enforcement costs. These have been published and copies are available in the Library of the House. My right hon. Friend the Minister and officials continue to press the Commission to carry out a thorough investigation of the way in which the EU Charges Directive has been implemented in all member states and to establish the level of inspection charges in each country.
At the same time, the Government do recognise the difficulties faced by the industry and has acted on the concerns of the meat industry over the impact of increased inspection costs. As the hon. Member will know from my right hon. Friend the Minister's announcement on 20 September 1999, charges for Specified Risk Material controls will now not be imposed before 2002–03 at the earliest. In addition, on 1 December 1999, he announced that Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) hygiene inspection charges for the whole of 1999–2000 were to be held at the level fixed for 1998–99. This will result in a saving to the meat industry of some £7 million in charges in 1999–2000. We also gave a commitment that the rates of MHS hygiene inspection charges in 2000–01 will not rise by more than the rate of inflation above the levels charged in 1999–2000. These measures represent a considerable cost saving for plant operators.
The cost burden faced by the industry was one of the main issues considered by the Meat Industry Red Tape Working Group, whose report was published on 13 December 1999. Of its 35 recommendations, 32 have been accepted, or are under further consideration, including the establishment of a small task force to explore all the issues surrounding a "capping" approach to charging. This is being pursued urgently.