§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meat inspectors have been employed in inspecting(a) domestic abattoirs and (b) meat entering the UK in each of the last 10 years. [155290]
§ Ms Stuart[holding answer sent 23 March 2001]: I am advised on food safety issues by the Food Standards Agency.
The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) was established in 1995 when it took over meat inspection duties in licensed fresh meat premises in Great Britain from some 300 local authorities. The number of meat inspectors employed by the local authorities prior to 1 April 1995 is not known.
In licensed abattoirs, Meat Hygiene Inspectors (MHIs) are present throughout processing and are responsible for the post mortem inspection of carcases and offal. The average number of MHIs employed by the MHS in licensed abattoirs in Great Britain in each of the last six years is shown in the table:
Average number of MHIs 1995–96 960 1996–97 1,084 1997–98 1,173 1998–99 1,267 1999–2000 1,205 2000–01 1,174 The increase in numbers is as a result of extra inspection work associated with the enforcement of BSE controls in licensed abattoirs.