§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the nature is of the investigation the Meat Hygiene Service is planning into official veterinary surgeon supervision at the Mead Webber plant since 10 April; and what the timescale is for the investigation.[122042]
§ Ms Stuart[holding answer 15 May 2000]:I understand from the Food Standards Agency that it is arranging for Mead Webber Ltd.'s complaints against the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) to be investigated independently. The investigation will be carried out as quickly as possible.
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Official Veterinary Surgeons have attended the Mead Webber abattoir since the Meat Hygiene Service took over responsibility for supervising it; and when Mr. Yogaratnam was appointed as OVS to the plant.[122056]
§ Ms Stuart[holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that, owing to a fire at a central Government filestore in 1998, the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) is unable to provide a categorical statement as to how many official veterinary surgeons (OVSs) have attended the Mead Webber abattoir since it took over responsibility for supervising these premises.
However, available records show that 19 OVSs have attended the Mead Webber abattoir since the MHS took over responsibility for supervising it. Two of these have acted as the lead OVSs throughout this period, and as such have been responsible for the production of HAS scores for the plant. The other 17 have been used to provide locum cover.
Mr. Yogaratnam was appointed as OVS to the Mead Webber plant in April 1997.