HC Deb 18 November 1952 vol 507 c1565
16. Captain Duncan

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to encourage the entry into the trade of slaughterhousemen in the increased numbers likely to be necessary under Her Majesty's Government's policy of moderate concentration of slaughterhouses in Great Britain; and what arrangement he is making for training such men.

Sir W. Monckton

While it is too early to say how the new policy for siting slaughterhouses will affect the number of slaughtermen required, the Joint Industrial Council for the industry has recently drawn up an apprenticeship scheme for young workers entering the industry.

Captain Duncan

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that the National Farmers' Unions of England and Scotland are developing a tentative marketing scheme to take over from the Ministry of Food; that two prerequisites of that are sufficient slaughterhouses and sufficient slaughtermen; and that there is a shortage of both at the present moment. Will my right hon. and learned Friend deal with the slaughterhouse question?

Sir W. Monckton

So far as the slaughterhouse question is concerned, the policy statement already made in this House does not involve a very large reduction in the number of slaughter points now being used by the Ministry of Food. But it does mean that there will be a considerable reduction on the pre-war figure of the number of slaughterhouses. It is too soon at present to know whether we shall need more than the scheme of which I spoke.

Mr. M. MacMillan

Would the Minister consider grouping that answer with the answer to Questions Nos. 29 and 30?