§ 45. Sir H. Williamsasked the Prime Minister if he will afford time for a debate on the Motion for an early day standing in the name of the hon. Member for Croydon, East, and other hon. Members.
§ [That, in the opinion of this House, the broadcast produced on 20the November by Mr. Denis Mitchell under the title, "Horses Can't Talk," alleging cruelty in the killing of horses is in conflict with the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Slaughter of Horses, Command Paper No. 8925, presented to Parliament in August, 1953, which reported that after diligent inquiries no evidence of the use of an electric pump for the extraction of blood had been discovered; and that the British Broadcasting Corporation be censured for publishing statements in the contrary sense.]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Harry Crookshank)I have been asked to reply. No, Sir.
§ Sir H. WilliamsHaving regard to the fact that this broadcast contained statements which horrified many people, will my right hon. Friend make representations to the B.B.C. as to the undesirability of publishing grossly misleading information?
§ Mr. CrookshankIf my hon. Friend will refer back to the replies given in the House on Wednesday by the Minister of Food, he will see that my right hon. and gallant Friend is making inquiries.