Abattoirs

Mr. Llwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many working abattoirs there were in (a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990, (d) 1995 and (e) 2000; how many there are now; and if she will make a statement. [117743]

Mr. Morley
The numbers of red meat abattoirs in Great Britain for the five-year intervals from 1980 until 2000 were as follows: ---------
|       |
---------
|1980–81|
---------
|1985–86|
---------
|1990–91|
---------
|1995–96|
---------
|2000–01|
---------

Source:

The Meat and Livestock Commission.

In 2002–03 there were 320 red meat abattoirs in Great Britain.