§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abattoirs there were in the north-west in each of the years from 1997 to date. [160079]
§ Ms StuartBetween 1997 and March 2001, there were 50 licensed red meat abattoirs and 16 licensed white meat abattoirs in the north-west (Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside). The number of licensed red meat abattoirs fell to 47 in late March, when three abattoirs surrendered their licences in order to take part in the cull schemes introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food during the foot and mouth disease outbreak.
Currently, licensed abattoirs are also subject to additional approval arrangements under the Foot and Mouth Disease Order as amended. Thirty-eight abattoirs in the north-west are approved to operate under these arrangements.