§ 30. Mr. McENTEEasked the Minister of Health whether the Regulations which he proposes to make, providing for the inspection of meat at the time of slaughter, include a provision that occupiers of slaughter-houses shall give notice of their intention to slaughter to the medical officer of the local authority; if so, whether he is aware that in many cases such notice will be ineffective; whether he will consider the advisability of making provision for the notice to be given in all cases direct to the officer whose duty it will be to make the inspection; and whether, before coming to a contrary decision, he will accede to the request of the Sanitary Inspectors' Association to receive a deputation to discuss the point?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYThe provisions of the draft Regulations specify the medical officer of health as the officer to whom notices of slaughtering are to be sent, but the local authority is empowered to direct that such notices are to be sent to the sanitary inspector or any other specified officer in lieu of the medical officer of health. I have already written to the Sanitary Inspectors' Association acceding to their request for the reception of a deputation to discuss this and other points arising on the draft Regulations.
§ Sir J. NALLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this question and similar ones frequently come before the Local Legislation Committee in this House in connection with the Bills of local authorities, and will he take steps to incorporate this in a public Act so as to avoid the necessity of local authorities having to make special provision in local Bills?