§ 14. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Food what loss of meat occurred through delays in slaughtering fat cattle and lambs during August, September and October; and in which parts of the country the most serious loss occurred.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeIt is not possible to make an estimate. But this autumn fatstock marketing has been more evenly spread than in recent years. This has reduced the interval between purchase and slaughter to what is in general no more than reasonable and necessary.
§ Mr. HurdWill my right hon. and gallant Friend keep a close watch on those areas where there have been the longest delays so that as his experiments in cold storage are developed these areas will be looked after particularly?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeCertainly, but my hon. Friend will be glad to know that last year that interval between the time of arrival of the cattle for slaughter and the slaughtering was between five to seven days and that for this year it has been reduced to three to four days.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware of the report made to the National Farmers' Union in Scotland this week where it is reported that certain sheep in the Glasgow area have been kept seven or eight days without food between the time of sale and the time of slaughter? Would he keep an eye on that sort of thing and look into it, for apart from the cruelty issue the loss of condition must be very great?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI have no information about that, but I will look into it.