§ MR. MORTON (Sutherland)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether all local authorities, either county or Thorough, in Scotland are bound to appoint a veterinary surgeon; whether the duties to which he is appointed include the inspection of all live animals exposed for sale for human food in all markets within his jurisdiction; and, if not, will he see, in the interest of public health, that the duties and regulations of the office of veterinary surgeon are so amended as to secure that all animals intended for human food and offered for sale in any public market shall be inspected and certified as being free from disease.
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Mr. SINCLAIR,) ForfarshireA local authority may appoint a veterinary surgeon for purpose of dealing with inspection of any animal alive or dead intended for food of man, and, while such an appointment is not expressly imperative, the Local Government Board use every influence to induce local authorities to make one. A veterinary surgeon appointed under Public Health Act is not bound to inspect all animals exposed for sale for human food in all markets within his jurisdiction. The duties of their veterinary surgeon have teen extended by special arrangement by certain authorities to include matters other than those specifically mentioned in Sections 43 and 60, but any general amendment of duties of veterinary surgeons, contained as they are entirely in the above sections, is a matter for legislation. I cannot at present give any undertaking in this respect.
§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)May I ask if the Local Government Board in Scotland have yet established uniformity of inspection throughout the country?
§ MR. SINCLAIRThey have no such power, so far as I am informed.