Written question asked by Oliver Letwin (Conservative) on Thursday, 27 May 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 June 2004. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Monday, 14 June 2004 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much taxpayers' money was spent by the British Cattle Movement Service replacing sets of labels for cattle passports. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much taxpayers' money was spent by the British Cattle Movement Service replacing sets of labels for cattle passports. [177197] Alun Michael: The exercise referred to will lead to a net saving of £73,000 over the next two years. In April 2004, the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) issued new sets of labels printed with farm details to all cattle keepers to replace labels they already had, some of which were issued five years ago. This exercise cost £67,000 and the BCMS estimate that it will save £140,000 over the next two years by reducing the verification and error correction costs arising because faded ink on the old label could not be read properly by their scanning system. The exercise was part of a continuing drive to improve quality and reduce costs.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 177197; 422 c610W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Cattle Expenditure Labelling Transport Cattle tracing system British Cattle Movement Service
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk