§ Mr. WATTasked the President of the Local Government Board what countries in Europe besides Great Britain have their meat inspection now done by their medical officers of health; and whether, in view of the public danger if unsound imported meat is not detected, he will see that all inspectors appointed in the future have attended a course of lectures on meat inspection and have taken a certificate thereon?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)The information at my disposal does not enable me to answer the first part of the question precisely, but I may point out that other European countries do not, as a rule, have a service of local medical officers whose administrative functions correspond with those of medical officers of health in regard to the inspection of food. I have no reason to believe that the port medical officers of health cannot satisfactorily perform the duty of judging whether meat is unsound. It is, however, the practice of the Local Government Board, before sanctioning the appointment under the Foreign Meat Regulations of inspectors or other persons to act under the direction of the medical officer of health in relation to the powers and duties imposed on him by the Regulations, to require evidence that these persons are qualified to perform them.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIn the event of meat being condemned, has the right hon. Gentleman any guarantee that it is destroyed?
§ Mr. BURNSYes; it is destroyed in every case. Unsound meat is invariably sent to the destructor, and a certificate is given of its destruction.
§ Mr. W. THORNEWhat occurs in the many cases where there is no destructor?