Slaughterhouses

Tim Farron
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average change in veterinary charges in abattoirs has been in each year since 2006-07.

Gillian Merron
The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) is responsible for official controls in all approved fresh meat establishments in Great Britain to verify that Food Business Operators comply with hygiene and other legislation including animal welfare.

Total charges to abattoir operators (excluding cutting plants) for official controls carried out by the MHS were:

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|       |£ million|
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|2006-07|21.1     |
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|2007-08|23.1     |
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|2008-09|24.5     |
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