Request
Your request was about the following information:
'I am wanting to receive data on Meat Hygiene Inspectors (MHIs) between Jan 2007 and the present day, in order to ascertain if there have been any changes in the average meat inspecting experience of those in the role, as well as how they are employed. I would like to know for each year:
1. The total number of MHIs employed by the Food Standards Scotland (FSS).
2. The total number of MHIs employed by the FSS compared to the number employed via contractors.
3. The average number of years of meat inspecting experience possessed by the FSS inspectors during their careers, plus the average number of years experience possessed by contracted MHIs in the FSS during their careers, during each year from January 2007 until the present day.
4. The total number of meat facilities inspected by FSS, identified by those individual authorities, inspected by MHIs during each year.'
Response
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because Food Standards Scotland does not hold that information. For information prior to 1st April 2015 you may wish to contact the Food Standards Agency.
1. We employed 58 MHIs in the year 2015/16, and 57 MHIs in the year 2016/17. We currently (as at end of September 2017) employ 57 MHIs.
2. FSS does not hold this information.
3. The average number of years of meat inspecting experience possessed by MHIs employed by FSS was 20 in 2015/16 and 19 in 2016/17. We do not hold information with respect to the years’ experience of contracted MHIs.
4. FSS delivered meat hygiene inspections, either through employed or contracted MHIs, in 119 meat plants in 2015/16 and in 110 meat plants in 2016/17. We currently (as at end of September 2017) deliver meat hygiene inspections by MHIs in 102 meat plants.
