To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of privatising the Meat Hygiene Service; and what discussions he has had with the Food Standards Agency on its proposals to be discussed at the board meeting on 7 May. (201389)

The MHS is an Executive Agency of the Food Standards Agency. The FSA Board considered the arguments for and against the delegation of official controls in approved meat establishments to an independent third party or Control Body at its open meeting on 7 May. The Board agreed that a proposed pilot of a Control Body should not be further pursued and the option of outsourcing the work of the MHS should be revisited only if there are significant changes in the official controls environment.