Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that health and safety standards are maintained in meat processing plants throughout the UK.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for enforcement of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in Great Britain. HSE Northern Ireland has a similar responsibility in Northern Ireland.

HSE is not the regulator of food safety. The regulatory lead for public health matters, such as responding when workers in meat processing plant test positive for Covid-19, remains with public health bodies.

HSE has published guidance on health and safety in meat processing and other food businesses and regulated standards in this industry through operational activity, including inspections and investigating concerns raised by workers and incidents where there has been harm: https://www.hse.gov.uk/food/index.htm.

During the pandemic, HSE has worked with other government departments to provide additional guidance on health and safety risk controls appropriate to food production businesses, including meat processing:

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/adapting-food-manufacturing-operations-during-covid-19.