§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)To ask the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been called to the fact that where local authorities in Scotland carry out the Public Health Act of 1897 dealing with meat inspection, consignors of live pigs and pig carcases, rather than run the risk 1379 of condemnation by these local authorities, forward their live stock to the surrounding districts, where the authorities are less stringent, whence they find their way in the form of cured hams into the proscribed localities; whether he is aware that this is a disadvantage to those who seek to carry out the law; and whether he will insist on equality of standard of meat inspection for all local authorities.
(Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) The attention of the Board has been called to this practice, and they have instructed inquiry to be made into it.
§ MR. WATTTo ask the Secretary for Scotland whether the inquiry into the methods of meat inspection by the officers of local authorities in Scotland has now been completed; and if he will report the results of that inquiry.
(Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) As I have already informed my hon. friend, the inquiry will shortly be completed. The question of communicating the result of the inquiry will receive my careful consideration.