Written question asked by Owen Paterson (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 May 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 June 2000. It was answered by Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston (Labour) on Monday, 12 June 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what account the Meat Hygiene Service takes when undertaking checks on abattoirs of their need for repair and maintenance; and to what extent Meat Hygiene Service officials discount repair and maintenance defects when calculating HAS scores. (Holding answer 15 May 2000).

Answer: Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account the Meat Hygiene Service takes when undertaking checks on abattoirs of their need for repair and maintenance; and to what extent Meat Hygiene Service officials discount repair and maintenance defects when calculating HAS scores. [122044] Ms Stuart: [holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that during routine monitoring of the hygiene of production, the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) ensures that the structure of the premises complies with the requirements laid down in the relevant legislation. Should the occupier fail to maintain the premises in a satisfactory state the MHS will take appropriate enforcement action. The Hygiene Assessment System (HAS) scores are intended to evaluate the risk to meat arising from various factors. One section of HAS relates to the risk to meat from the structure and maintenance of the premises.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 122044; 351 c471W
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Inspections Food Standards Agency Repairs and maintenance Slaughterhouses Meat Hygiene Service Hygiene assessment system
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk