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To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice he has given abattoir operators regarding meat inspection charges post 1st April. - Includes ref to letters from Food Standards Agency and Meat Hygiene Service in Library at www.foodstandards.gov.uk. (Holding answer 23 March 2001). (Dep 01/758).

Asked by

Christopher Gill (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

1 May 2001

Reference

367 c568-9W; 155114

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recommendations in the Maclean Report on abattoirs the Government has decided not to implement.

Asked by

Tim Yeo (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

7 March 2001

For answer on

1 May 2001

Answered on

1 May 2001

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recommendations in the Maclean report on abattoirs the Government have decided not to implement. [153240] Ms Stuart: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that the revised meat inspection charging system that came into force on 2 April 2001 implements all the recommendations of the meat inspection charges task force (Maclean report) with one exception. The exception was the recommendation that the FSA should carry out a full risk assessment of green offal inspection and veterinary involvement in ante-mortem inspection of young stock. The underlying intention was the removal of unnecessary burdens and costs (subject to amendment of the European Union Fresh Meat Directive) if the proposed assessment indicated that the procedures did not offer increased public health protection. In its consultation package on the measures required to implement the recommendations of the Maclean task force, the FSA explained that the EU scientific steering committee is undertaking a risk assessment relating to all aspects of meat inspection in all member states. Any action that the European Commission proposes to take will depend on the committee's findings, and European legislation will be amended if required. In these circumstances the FSA considered that it would be unwise to act ahead of Europe on these issues. In addition, the FSA considered that the types of meat plants that would benefit from the removal of unnecessary inspections would, in any case, include those likely to benefit from the introduction of a revised inspection charging system based on headage payments. The FSA's proposal in this respect did not attract any opposition from respondents to the consultation exercise.

Date

1 May 2001

Reference

367 c568W; 153240

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) small and (b) large abattoirs of inspection charges; and if he will make a statement on the levying of charges on (i) a per head basis and (ii) a per hour basis....

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

7 March 2001

For answer on

19 March 2001

Answered on

19 March 2001

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) small and (b) large abattoirs of inspection charges; and if he will make a statement on the levying of charges on (i) a per head basis and (ii) a per hour basis. [153268] Ms Stuart: [holding answer 12 March 2001]: We have accepted the recommendation of the Meat Inspection Charges Task Force (the "Maclean Group") that the current method of charging for meat inspections on an hourly basis should be changed and that all abattoirs and cutting plants should instead be charged the standard (headage/throughput) fees laid down in the European Union Charges Directive or their actual inspection costs where these are lower. The Statutory Instrument (SI) giving effect (in England) to this recommendation--The Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Charges) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001--was laid before Parliament on 9 March 2001 and, subject to parliamentary approval, will come into force on 2 April 2001. (Similar legislation is being made in Wales and Scotland). The Regulatory Impact Assessment accompanying the SI gives examples of the impact of these changes on the level of meat inspection charges incurred by certain abattoirs. For example, a small plant (100 livestock units per annum) would see its annual inspection charges fall from £3,500 to £200. And a medium-sized plant (16,300 livestock units per annum) plant would see its annual charges fall from £107,200 to £49,200. A number of plants with very large annual throughputs will, however, continue to be charged their actual inspection costs (calculated on a per hour basis) since these will be lower than the charge calculated on a throughput basis.

Date

19 March 2001

Reference

365 c95W;365 c95-6W; 153268

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will publish his response to the report of the meat inspection charges task force. - Inc figures and ref to the Rural White Paper. (Holding answer 18 December 2000).

Asked by

Christopher Gill (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

19 December 2000

Reference

360 c145W; 143177

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was (a) the cost of and (b) the length of time taken to produce the Maclean report on meat inspection charges. - Inc figures.

Asked by

Christopher Gill (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

30 November 2000

Reference

357 c887W; 137565

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will respond to the report of the task force on meat inspection charges. - Ref to 3 July 2000 at 353 c29W.

Asked by

Christopher Gill (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

28 July 2000

Reference

354 c985W; 131098

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on his plans for adopting the recommendations of the Task Force on Meat Inspection Charges. - Inc ref to 353 c29W, 3 July 2000.

Asked by

Paul Marsden (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

28 July 2000

Reference

130819; 354 c1130W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he will publish his response to the report of the Meat Inspection Charges Task Force.

Asked by

Christopher Gill (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

3 July 2000

Reference

128735; 353 c29W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has recently received concerning the future of small abattoirs; and what action he is taking to ensure their survival. - Inc figures and ref to reply to open letter about the impact of meat inspection charges and fact...

Asked by

Christopher Gill (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

21 March 2000

For answer on

2 May 2000

Answered on

2 May 2000

Mr. Gill: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has recently received concerning the future of small abattoirs; and what action he is taking to ensure their survival. [116251] Ms Stuart: As responsibility for food safety and standards matters has now passed to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) which reports to Parliament through Health Ministers, I have been asked to reply. Since publication of the Government's response to the report of the Meat Industry Red Tape Working Group, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and, from 1 April, the Food Standards Agency, has received a number of representations from a wide variety of sources about the future of small abattoirs. The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food recently replied to an open letter from 136 organisations about the impact of meat inspection charges on small and medium sized abattoirs, copies of which are available in the Library. I am advised that the Food Standards Agency recognises the difficulties faced by the meat industry, especially small businesses, as a result of increased veterinary supervision levels and the associated costs. We also understand the importance of local slaughtering facilities. A number of measures have been put in place to help small and medium sized abattoirs. These include the freezing of Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) hourly rates in 1999-2000 at 1998-99 levels (worth £7 million) and restricting the increase in 2000-01 to 2.2 per cent., in line with the rate of inflation and the commitment made by us last year. Charges for enforcement of specified risk Material controls have been deferred until 2002-03 at the earliest (worth £22 million). Following advice received from the European Commission, the MHS is reviewing its levels of inspection in individual low throughput (permanently derogated) premises. No increases in veterinary supervision levels in such premises have been made since the Commission's advice was received last May. No changes will be made until that review has been completed. In addition, we have adopted, or are giving further consideration to, 32 of the 35 recommendations of the Meat Industry Red Tape Working Group. We are pressing on with their implementation as was confirmed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister at the agriculture summit on 30 March. Steps are being taken to secure changes in the European Union meat hygiene and charging legislation in line with the Group's recommendations and discussions are underway in Brussels. The Food Standards Agency has also acted on the Group's recommendation and has set up a small task force to explore all the issues surrounding a `capping' approach to meat hygiene inspection charges for low volume abattoirs. Its membership and working arrangements were announced in a Food Standards Agency press release on 11 April, copies of which are available in the Library.

Date

2 May 2000

Reference

349 c95W; 116251

House

House of Commons

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