§ 47 and 48. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Food (1) what was the number of animals slaughtered by the Jewish method in 1948; and the total weight of meat made available by such process;
(2) how many kosher meat registrations there were in 1948; and what was the total weight of meat allowed to them for the whole year.
§ The Minister of Food (Mr. Strachey)About 80,000 cattle, 40,000 calves and 70,000 sheep are slaughtered annually in Great Britain by this method, producing about 20,000 tons of meat. The estimated number of registrations for kosher meat is 260,000, and the weight of meat issued to Kosher butchers in 1948 was about 5,500 tons. This is less than one half of 1 per cent. of the national meat supply. In general our arrangements mean that Jewish consumers gain a little on quality and on the other hand lose a little in quantity as compared to other consumers of meat.