§ MR. WATTI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been called to the fact that on the 18th and 20th February last forelegs of chilled beef were seized in Glasgow Meat Market on the stance of the agent of one of the largest meat exporters in the United States; that these forelegs were stamped U.S. inspected and passed; that they showed tubercular nodules and, on incision, glandular invasion; and if he will say what steps the Local Government Board have taken to prevent importation of meat in such condition into Scotland.
MR. SHAWI have received no official information with regard to the facts mentioned by my hon. friend. The Local Government Board for Scotland have no power to prevent the importation of meat from any country. The present system of inspection authorised by Section 43 of the Public Health (Scotland) Act, 1897, is, if properly administered, sufficient to protect the consumer of foreign meat, as is shown by the seizure of the meat in the case referred to.