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Mr. Wigley
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to safeguard the future of small abattoirs in Wales. [66157]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones
The slaughtering industry has been going through a substantial period of change. There is still over capacity in the industry and it is principally for commercial operators to consider how they respond to these changes.However, the Government's decision to cover the costs of Specified Risk Material (SRM) Inspections for this financial year will benefit the industry in Wales by an estimated £2.8 million in 1998–99.In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.