HC Deb 20 November 1950 vol 481 c18
34. Major Johnson

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now appoint to all grading panels representatives of the retail butchers' buying committees.

Mr. Webb

District meat agents, who are practical butchers, already have the right to take part with the slaughterhouse manager and the wholesale depot manager in the grading of home-killed meat. All these men are impartial, and I do not think that anything would be gained by adding a representative of the buying committees.

Major Johnson

Does the Minister realise that the district meat agent is, by the Ministry's rules, not allowed to take part in a retail butcher's business? Does he not think it right that the retail butcher, who has the somewhat invidious job of selling the meat to the public, should have a say in the matter of sale to the public?

Mr. Webb

I do not like to add to bureaucracy. I think the machinery is quite adequate and that the addition to the committee would be most unfortunate.

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