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HEALTH
Disabled People
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on extending the advocacy system for disabled people to the disabled in hospital; and if he will make a statement. [121725]
Mr. Hutton: We are not aware of any recent representations on extending the advocacy system for disabled people to the disabled in hospital.
Models of advocacy have been explored as part of the development of a New National Health Service Charter. This work, including the advocacy role in the NHS, is now being considered as part of the work of the Modernisation (Patient Empowerment) Action Team. The modernisation action teams will produce a National Plan for the NHS in July.
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure equal access to the NHS census for disabled people through alternative formats. [125121]
Mr. Hutton: In the week leading up to National Health Service census day on 31 May 2000, 12 million consultation leaflets were made available at supermarkets, high street chemists and other NHS facilities. It was also published on the worldwide web. For those who may have had difficulty reading the text or completing the form in these formats, the leaflet was also made available on tape with the facility to either record responses on that tape or by dictating over the telephone.
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Meat Hygiene Service
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason Mr. Yogaratnam was withdrawn from day-to-day duties in the Mead Webber plant by the Meat Hygiene Service; and what were the specific grounds for suspending him from his current post in the Meat Hygiene Service. [122050]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that Mr. Yogaratnam was released from his official veterinary surgeon (OVS) duties in the Mead Webber plant by the Meat Hygiene Service to enable him to spend more time working as a principal official veterinary surgeon (POVS) overseeing contract OVS performance in other licensed premises in the area.
Mr. Yogaratnam is suspended pending an investigation into his performance as OVS and POVS at the Mead Webber plant.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to whom Official Veterinary Surgeon contracts have been awarded by the Meat Hygiene Service in respect of the Merthyr Tydfil abattoir. [122045]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that there is currently no licensed abattoir operating at Merthyr Tydfil. An abattoir is however currently under construction there. This has yet to be licensed.
The contract to provide official veterinary surgeon duties to the premises has yet to be put out to competitive tender by the Meat Hygiene Service.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instructions are given to official veterinary surgeons regarding the calculation of HAS scores; and what steps the Meat Hygiene Service takes to ensure the instructions are followed. [122041]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: Chapter 2 of the Meat Hygiene Service Operations Manual provides Official Veterinary Surgeons (OVSs) with very detailed advice on carrying out a hygiene assessment system (HAS) evaluation and calculating the overall HAS score.
Extensive training is provided to all OVSs by the MHS to promote consistency.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the status is of the HAS score recorded in Mead Webber's day book for 19 April. [122062]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that an independent investigation is to be carried out as soon as possible into the actions of the Meat Hygiene Service at Mead Webber's plant at Eardisley. This will include scrutiny of the records including comments made in the plant day book.
It would be inappropriate to comment further until this investigation has been completed. However, the hon. Member will be informed of its outcome.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibilities Mr. Ivor Pumfrey of the Meat Hygiene Service has had in respect of (a) Mr. Yogaratnam and (b) the operation of the Mead Webber plant; and when he assumed those duties. [122053]
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Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that Mr. Ivor Pumfrey is the Meat Hygiene Service Regional Director (Wales). He is Mr. Yogaratnam's line manager and the Mead Webber plant is one of the plants in Mr. Pumfrey's area of responsibility. As such Mr. Pumfrey is responsible through MHS official veterinary surgeons and inspection teams, for ensuring that meat that is health marked is fit for human consumption, and that animal welfare is fully protected.
Mr. Pumfrey commenced employment with the MHS on 1 November 1994.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Meat Hygiene Service's policy is on giving explanations of HAS scores. [122061]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that full guidance notes for undertaking Hygiene Assessment System scores are included in Chapter 2, Volume I of the Meat Hygiene Service Operations Manual, copies of which are available to plant management.
MHS official veterinary surgeons (OVSs) undertake Hygiene Assessment System (HAS) scores every month for full throughput premises and every quarter for low throughput premises. The OVS responsible for the premises is available to discuss the plant HAS score with plant management. Principal official veterinary surgeons (POVSs) who oversee the work and performance of plant OVSs are also available to discuss plant HAS scores with plant management. If plant management remain unhappy with the OVSs assessment of the HAS score he/she can appeal, and an independent POVS will review the HAS score and consider the concerns expressed by plant management.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which officials of the Meat Hygiene Service Mr. Pumfrey informed on the day of or the day after the decision to close the Mead Webber plant of that decision. [122069]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: The Food Standards Agency has advised me that the management of Mead Webber informed Mr. Ivor Pumfrey, the Meat Hygiene Service Regional Director (Wales), of their intention to close the Mead Webber plant at 8am on 20 April 2000. This was confirmed by facsimile later that morning.
Mr. Pumfrey informed the following MHS officials on the day that Mead Webber Ltd. informed him of their intention to close the plant:
- Mr. J. McNeill (MHS Chief Executive)
- Mr. P. Soul (MHS Director of Operations)
- Ms M. Redmond (MHS Director of Human Resources)
- Mr. D. Simmons (MHS Area Resource Manager)
- Mr. L. Wood (MHS Principal OVS)
- Mr. Yogaratnam (MHS POVS and OVS at the Mead Webber plant)
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- (2) if minor trimming by meat inspectors is permitted by the Meat Hygiene Service as long as it does not interfere with their official duties. [122059]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: The Meat Hygiene Service policy on carcase contamination and trimming is detailed in the MHS Operations Manual, chapter 6 page 4. It states:
- Carcases and offal presented for inspection with evidence of visible contamination must be appropriately trimmed to your satisfaction before application of the health mark. Trimming of contamination is normally a task for premises staff working under your direction. However, you may trim minor contamination provided it does not interfere with the inspection routine. Where this cannot be done on the dressing line the affected carcase or offal must be detained for more detailed attention.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health at what time and on what day the decision was taken by the Meat Hygiene Service to suspend Mr. Yogarathnam. [122063]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: The decision was taken on Monday 26 April 2000. Mr. Yogarathnam was informed at approximately 12.40 pm the same day.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account the Meat Hygiene Service takes when undertaking checks on abattoirs of their need for repair and maintenance; and to what extent Meat Hygiene Service officials discount repair and maintenance defects when calculating HAS scores. [122044]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that during routine monitoring of the hygiene of production, the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) ensures that the structure of the premises complies with the requirements laid down in the relevant legislation. Should the occupier fail to maintain the premises in a satisfactory state the MHS will take appropriate enforcement action.
The Hygiene Assessment System (HAS) scores are intended to evaluate the risk to meat arising from various factors. One section of HAS relates to the risk to meat from the structure and maintenance of the premises.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on relations between Mead Webber and Meat Hygiene Service staff up to 10 April. [122052]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: An independent investigation is to be carried out as soon as possible into the actions of the Meat Hygiene Service at Mead Webber's plant at Eardisley. This will include scrutiny of the working relations between Mead Webber and Meat Hygiene Service staff.
It would be inappropriate to comment further until this investigation has been completed. However, the hon. Member will receive a copy of the findings as soon as the investigation is completed.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when Mr. Richard Turner was appointed by Official Veterinary Surgeon to the Mead Webber plant. [122047]
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Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the St. David's Farm and Equine Veterinary Practice, of which Mr. Richard Turner is a partner, was awarded the contract to supply an official veterinary surgeon to the Mead Webber plant on 10 April 2000.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the evidence and results of the inquiry into Mead Webber's closure by the Meat Hygiene Service will be published immediately on the internet. [122066]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: I understand from the Food Standards Agency that it intends to publish the findings of the independent investigation of Mead Webber Ltd.'s complaints against the Meat Hygiene Service and that these will be made available on the internet. It is expected that the investigation will be reliant on the voluntary co-operation of the parties concerned, who will need to agree what evidence is published.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what Mr. Yogaratnam's position in the Meat Hygiene Service was at the time he was appointed Official Veterinary Surgeon to the Mead Webber plant; and what his duties were in respect of the plant. [122055]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that Mr. Yogaratnam was a principal official veterinary surgeon (POVS) at the time he was appointed official veterinary surgeon (OVS) to the Mead Webber plant. He was also a POVS overseeing contract OVS activities in a number of other plants in the area.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what official responsibilities Mr. Richard Turner has had in respect of plants owned or operated by the St. Merryn's Group; and what contracts the St. David's Practice has had with the Meat Hygiene Service in respect of the provision of Official Veterinary Surgeons to plants owned or operated by the St. Merryn's Group. [122048]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that Richard Turner has had no official responsibilities in respect of plants owned or operated by the St. Merryn Group.
The St. David's Farm and Equine Practice has had no contracts with the Meat Hygiene Service for the provision of Official Veterinary Surgeons to plants owned or operated by the St. Merryn Group.
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