§ 61. Mr. Thomas Macphersonasked the Minister of Food how many apprentices are employed at each regional slaughterhouse; and what proportion these represent of the total staff.
§ Mr. StracheySlaughtering at Government operated slaughterhouses is done by slaughtering contractors. There is no national apprentice scheme at present, though one is being formulated by the Institute of Meat and the Joint Industrial Council for the slaughtering industry. Local training arrangements sponsored by slaughtering contractors or traders' associations have been encouraged by my officials, but I cannot say how many young men are under specific training at our slaughterhouses.
§ Mr. MacphersonIs my right hon. Friend aware of the concern which exists about the decreasing number of young men learning the skilled craft of the butcher in this trade, which applies not only to home killed cattle but also to the imported cattle; and will he please look into it and see that the numbers in this trade are maintained?
§ Mr. StracheyI will certainly consider that.