§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)To ask the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that it is the practice of some local authorities in Scotland to let the burgh slaughter-house to yearly tenants, who reimburse themselves by the collection of dues from butchers for the use of the slaughter-house, and that these tenants perform the duty of meat inspectors; and will he say what control the local authorities have over the yearly tenants Of the burgh slaughter-houses to insure the proper discharge of their duties as official moat inspectors, and do the local authorities demand that these tenants should have the qualifications for meat inspectors specified under Recommendations, Meat—B, by the Royal Commission on Tuberculosis, 1898.
(Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) I am aware that in several burghs the slaughterhouse is lot to a local butcher who, in some instances, reimburses himself by the collection of dues; that in one or two instances known to the Local Government Board the tenants are understood to report diseased or unsound carcases to the sanitary officials: but that, in the majority of burghs with public slaughterhouses, the sanitary inspector and veterinary surgeon visit daily or at such other intervals as may be necessary for effective supervision. So far as I am aware the local authorities do not demand that the tenants of their slaughter-houses shall possess the qualifications specified by the Royal Commission on Tuberculosis.