§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of distances travelled by animals from the more remote parts of the country, they will establish a fund for the setting up of small local abattoirs. [HL1766]
§ Baroness HaymanThe Government recognise that small local abattoirs can make an important contribution to the rural economy and have taken steps to improve their viability by allowing them to pay only those meat inspection charges fixed by the EU as flat rates per head of livestock slaughtered, rather than the actual cost of inspection (where the latter would be higher). The cost of this support is estimated to be £8.7 million per year.