§ 14. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Food how much mutton was found unfit for human consumption in a consignment supplied to Manchester at the beginning of February, 1951; what percentage of the total consignment was so found unfit and how long the meat so found unfit had been in store.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that 878 sheep in this consignment could not be sold until the bad bits had been cut off, and that in the case of 389 of them they were found to be covered with green and slimy mould and were then sent to sausage manufacturers?
§ Mr. WebbThere was indeed a complaint. We get complaints every week—that is normal. It is not a matter that is confined to the public operation of meat supplies; it has gone on right throughout time. This particular question was settled amicably between the butchers' representatives and my Ministry's local officers.
§ Miss HorsbrughCan the right hon. Gentleman say, in connection with this amicable settlement between the butchers and the representatives of the Ministry of Food, how much of that consignment of meat had to be cut off and wasted and at what price the butchers got the remainder?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterHowever amicable the settlement may have been, what steps is the Minister taking to prevent further waste of meat?
§ Mr. BoothbyCan the right hon. Gentleman give some assurance that meat which is, according to my hon. Friend, slimy with mould is not sent to sausage manufacturers?
§ Mr. WebbThat is a quite inaccurate and misleading suggestion. The control over the quality of meat is not in the hands of my Department at all. It is in the hands of the officers of local authorities, who themselves test the quality of meat and who never allow any bad meat to pass into general circulation. They are most stringent in their tests, and I assure hon. Members that they need have no anxiety on that score.