Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many of the qualified meat inspectors working for the Food Standards Agency are employees; and how many of these are (a) permanent, (b) temporary, (c) casual and (d) agency employees.

There is a total of 659, including 57 casuals, qualified meat hygiene inspectors employed by the Food Standards Agency and our contractor. Of the 314 qualified meat hygiene inspectors employed by the Food Standards Agency, 296 are permanent and 18 are casual, paid an hourly rate of between £13.99 to £18.00 per hour. 306 qualified meat hygiene inspectors are employed by a contractor including 39 casuals. The information on the hourly rate of pay is unavailable as it is commercially sensitive.