§ Any local authority which has provided or established a slaughter house may, if they think fit, employ persons to slaughter or stun animals, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, and may make such charges as they consider reasonable for the services of the persons so employed.—[The Lord Advocate.]
§ Brought up, and read the First time.
1933§ The LORD ADVOCATEI beg to move "That the Clause be read a Second time."
This New Clause will enable a local authority which has provided or established a slaughter-house, if they think fit, to employ persons to slaughter or stun animals in accordance with the provisions of the Bill. That does not mean that there is any obligation on them to do it. That is a matter for their discretion. There was some talk upstairs as to whether the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Acts and other Acts would apply to such men, and this proposal is in order to make sure that these workmen will come under such Acts. It will not, of course, prevent people who want to have animals slaughtered by private contract with private slaughterers from having it done if they so prefer. I may add that, as far as National Health Insurance is concerned, a Clause in the National Health Insurance Bill at present before Parliament will make sure that these people come under the scheme. It will enable slaughterers employed under contract to be brought under the Act, and they will be brought under it unless expressly excluded.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill.