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Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Answer

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for extending the type of financial help with inspection charges made available in the Welsh Assembly's draft agricultural budget to English abattoirs; and what discussions he has held with the Commission about the acceptability of such help. [136661] Ms Quin: I have been asked to reply. As announced in the Rural White Paper published on 28 November, Agriculture Departments in England, Scotland and Wales have agreed to transfer £8.7 million to the Food Standards Agency for the three financial years 2001-02 to 2003-04; this will enable the FSA to implement the principal recommendation of the Task Force chaired by Colin Maclean to revise the method of charging for Meat Hygiene Service inspections in abattoirs and cutting plants. The FSA will be consulting the industry shortly on its proposals. Implementation of the Maclean recommendation will significantly reduce inspection charges levied on many small and medium- sized meat plants and thus be of considerable benefit to the rural economy.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

357 c896-7W; 136661

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Finance Fees and charges Inspections Hygiene Food Standards Agency Meat Slaughterhouses Rural areas

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk