HC Deb 27 November 1906 vol 165 c1417
VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH (Maidstone)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the method of slaughtering cattle for the use of the British troops in Egypt by bleeding and slitting their breasts open so that they take from five to ten minutes to die; will he make inquiry from the Array Service Corps officers, who have to superintend these cruel operations in the public abattoir at Alexandria and elsewhere, and endeavour to have more humane methods adopted.

MR. BUCHANAN

The cattle in Egypt for the use of the troops are slaughtered according to the custom of the country and the method approved by the Egyptian authorities. Inquiries are being made from the General Officer Commanding with regard to the circumstance referred to by the noble Lord.

MR. ARTHUR LEE

Has the attention of the hon. Gentleman been directed to the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the "Humane Slaughtering of Animals," upon which the War Office was represented, and which laid down certain methods to be adopted in Army and Navy Establishments? Will he see that those methods are universally enforced in the cases of meat supplied to the Army?

MR. BUCHANAN

We have no control over the Egyptian authorities in this matter.

SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)

Have you not authority over the contractors?

MR. BUCHANAN

Not in a foreign country like Egypt.

SIR HOWARD VINCENT

Then is Egypt a foreign country?