Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) officials, and (2) ministers, in the Northern Ireland Executive Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs about the recent award of a three-year contract to supply Meat Hygiene Inspectors to assist Official Veterinarians in Northern Ireland; and what contingency plans they have put in place in the event of a default on this contract.

As part of a Service Level Agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in relation to official controls, the Food Standards Agency has ongoing discussions with DAERA about resourcing at official level.

DAERA have taken forward a recruit-to-train project, recruiting staff as trainee meat inspectors. The agency contract is to secure agency workers to maintain continued delivery of official controls until such time as these trainees become fully qualified.

DAERA have established a group of vets and ex-meat inspectors in the Department who can be called upon to carry out meat inspection duties as a contingency in the event that the current contract is unable to deliver.