[Mr David Amess in the Chair] — Horsemeat

Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 9:30 am on 30 January 2013.

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Photo of Steve Reed Steve Reed Labour, Croydon North 9:30, 30 January 2013

I agree with my hon. Friend. I will come on to the national equine database and the risks that its scrapping has created for consumers and the industry. I thank him for his welcome intervention.

On local trading standards services, a freedom of information request by the trade union Unison exposed the fact that 743 trading standards jobs have been lost since 2010, resulting in fewer inspections and, consequently, higher risks for the public. Unison has questioned whether councils still have the resources they need to do the job. It is not enough for the Government to blame councils for cutting those services when the Government have cut councils’ funding to such a huge extent in the first place.