HC Deb 16 June 1952 vol 502 cc770-2
35. Sir R. Cary

asked the Minister of Food if his attention has been drawn to recent revelations that, in this country, a technique is being practised by using an electrical device to produce white meat from live horses; and if he will take steps to bring to an end this trade.

36. Mr. Grimond

asked the Minister of Food if his regulations permit the use of electric pumps to drain the blood from horses in slaughterhouses after they have been stunned.

Major Lloyd George

The responsibility for enforcing the Slaughter of Animals Acts rests wholly with local authorities and not with my Department. The Food and Drugs Act prescribes the conditions under which horse-flesh may be sold for human consumption. I rely on local authorities to enforce these provisions—which I think are adequate. I propose, however, to help them by requiring horse slaughterers to notify their local authority of their intention to slaughter.

Sir R. Cary

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend take steps to inquire whether this matter could be investigated by a Government agency instructed to report to him or to the appropriate Minister concerned and thereby to the House of Commons? Has he no statutory power whereby he could forbid this vile and most barbarous form of slaughtering which consists of first stunning the animal and then by an electrical device extracting the blood from its body in 15 minutes?

Major Lloyd George

I am sure my hon. Friend will appreciate that that is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government, but I will certainly get in touch with him on it.

Mr. T. Williams

Will the Minister say whether the practices referred to in the Questions are really happening in this country?

Major Lloyd George

I gather so from what I have heard, but, as I just told my hon. Friend, I will ask my right hon. Friend to inquire into the matter and see what happens.

Mr. Stokes

May I ask the right hon. and gallant Gentleman whether he has studied the articles published in the "Manchester Guardian" on this subject and whether, in considering an approach to his right hon. Friend, he will bear in mind that we are not going to let the matter rest here? This House will not rest content until this vile practice stops.

Brigadier Prior-Palmer

While recognising that the responsibility rests with the local authorities, has my right hon. and gallant Friend no power whatever to inspect and find out for himself what is happening?

Major Lloyd George

The whole question of the slaughter of animals is laid down by statute—I think it was the 1933 Act—and there has been an amendment to it since. That Act lays down how animals must be slaughtered and, as long as the Act remains what it is and is not contravened, there is nothing that can be done until it is either amended or there is fresh legislation. But, as I have told the House, I will get in touch with my right hon. Friend on the subject.

Mr. T. Williams

Is the Minister implying that the practices referred to in the Questions are at present legal, and are we to understand from the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's previous answer to a supplementary question that if he thinks these practices are taking place and that they are legal he will take legislative steps to deal with them?

Major Lloyd George

I do not know whether all this is legal or not, but I do know that stunning is referred to in the Act. What we have to satisfy ourselves about is that it is properly done. I can do certain things on that, but, as I promised the House, I will get in touch with my right hon. Friend to see what can be done.