§ 41. Mr. FREEMANasked the hon. Member for the Gorton Division, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether lobsters supplied to the House of Commons are boiled alive?
§ Mr. COMPTONThe lobsters supplied to the House of Commons are cooked in the orthodox way, and I am informed that the fish is alive when placed in the steamer, but, directly the steam is turned on, death is instantaneous.
§ Mr. FREEMANIs the hon. Gentleman quite satisfied that death is instantaneous, in view of the fact that groans and cries 2894 can be heard for a considerable time after the lobster has been immersed in boiling water; and, as this is an inhuman way of killing and cooking the animal, will he take steps to prohibit its use as an article of diet in the House of Commons?
§ Commander SOUTHBYAnd will the hon. Gentleman also take steps to prevent the brutal custom of eating live oysters in the House of Commons?
§ Mr. COMPTONI deny the suggestion in the first supplementary question, that there are anything in the nature of cries from the fish. This is the only way of cooking it known to those engaged in that profession, and the same thing applies to shrimps, mussels, winkles, cockles and all other fish of that kind. Taking into consideration, however, the fact that this House has abolished one form of capital punishment, perhaps my hon. Friend and those associated with him will provide a humane killer for lobsters.