asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many extra meat inspectors will be required in 1977 in order to supervise the EEC regulation concerning long-legged chickens; and if sufficient personnel are being trained.

Under the current proposals for the EEC Poultry Health Directive, inspection of poultry will not be compulsory until August 1979. It is not possible at this stage to anticipate the proportion of long-legged chickens that will pass through slaughterhouses in four years time.Recruitment of poultry meat inspectors has not yet commenced, but courses are being organised in conjunction with the industry for the practical training of such inspectors. It is currently estimated that to inspect the whole of the poultry trade operations, including long-legged chickens, in 1979, the number of inspectors required in Scotland will be 90.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to reverse the EEC regulation which prohibits the sale of long-legged chickens.

No. Amendments to the EEC poultry health directive will permit sales of long-legged chickens to continue on the existing basis until August 1981. Thereafter, only farm-gate sales of these chickens will be permitted.