§ 59. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Food whether he has yet received the report of the inquiry set up by him into the circumstances in which a large quantity of meat slaughtered at Islington on or about 3rd June, 1950, went bad; whether he intends to publish this report; and what action he proposes to take against those directly responsible.
§ The Minister of Food (Mr. Maurice Webb)As I told the hon. and gallant Member for Angus, North and Mearns (Mr. Thornton-Kemsley) on 19th July, I have received this report. I do not think any useful purpose would be served in publishing it, and I am satisfied that no disciplinary action is necessary.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe right hon. Gentleman will recall that in the answer to which he has referred me he stated that this loss arose from circumstances which could not be foreseen. Can he say why the people who killed this meat, for which there was no refrigerating space, on a Saturday and then left it over the week-end, failed to foresee that it might go bad?
§ Mr. WebbI have looked into this very carefully and have seen a detailed report. The truth is that the manager in this case took a risk. On balance, I think he took a justifiable risk, the sort of risk he has to take in these circumstances. I am not prepared to discipline a man for taking a risk and showing some sort of enterprise.