§ 71. Mr. FREEMANasked the hon. Member for the Gorton Division, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether all meat supplied to the House of Commons has been killed by the use of a humane killer?
§ Mr. J. COMPTONIn rep[...]y to the hon. Member, the butchers who supply the Refreshment Department are instructed to purchase only the best English or Scotch meat in the market. We are given to understand that the majority of abattoirs now use the humane killer, but the Kitchen Committee cannot guarantee that all meat supplied to the House of Commons is slaughtered by this method.
§ Mr. FREEMANMay I ask why Welsh meat is excluded; and also, in view of the sympathetic reply which the hon. Member gave yesterday with regard to another animal, whether he will not consider making the use of a humane killer a condition in regard to meat supplied to the House of Commons?
§ Mr. COMPTONFor the purpose of the business of this House, I understand that Wales is included in the term "England." With regard to the second part of the question, I cannot add anything to what I have already said, except that, if the Kitchen Committee should decide to kill bullocks down in the kitchens, we certainly shall use the humane killer.