HC Deb 24 July 1922 vol 157 cc30-1
83. Mr. STEWART

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can see his way to reconsider the methods at present adopted for slaughtering beasts for food, in view of the suffering which may be incurred by an animal being clumsily poleaxed; and whether he will consider the advisability of introducing a system of slaughter, either by shooting with a short-range weapon supplied with specially prepared cartridges, or of execution by a form of guillotine?

Sir A. MOND

I have been asked to reply to this question. My Department have long had a model byelaw providing for the use of a mechanical instrument, which has already been adopted by 46 local authorities, and would probably have been adopted by many more had not its validity been called in question and a decision in favour of it only recently been given by the High Court. I have no authority to compel local authorities to adopt this byelaw, nor do I think that it would be feasible at present to introduce legislation for the purpose. It is for local opinion to bring pressure on the local authorities if they are backward.

Mr. MILLS

Would it be much labour to substitute in a one-word Bill an instructive Clause in place of permissive sanction, by inserting the word "shall" instead of the word "may"?

Sir A. MOND

I do not say that it would take a long time, but if we have local government in this country, it is rather objectionable to have the Ministry compelling local authorities to do things which the local authorities have the option to do.

Mr. STEWART

Is it not. time that, in view of the great improvements that have been made in regard to killing, including the killing of men, that we did something to supplement our rough-and-ready methods in slaughtering animals, either by the use of electricity or other means, in place of the present method?

Sir A. MOND

The byelaws of the local authorities deal with this matter.

Mr. STEWART

Will the right hon. Gentleman issue a Circular on the subject?

Sir A. MOND

Certainly.

Sir A. SHIRLEY BENN

Has not the right hon. Gentleman seen the intense cruelty that goes on in the killing of these cattle, and is it not our duty, as a civilised country, to take steps to have it stopped?

Lieut.-Colonel A. MURRAY

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister of Agriculture has issued orders that the slaughtering done under the authority of the Ministry of Agriculture is to be by means of the humane slaughterers. If that is so in one Department, could not another Government Department do something of the same sort?

Sir A. MOND

I will consider that. If I were doing the slaughtering, I should certainly use a humane slaughterer.