§ 13. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Minister of Food whether he is yet in a position to issue regulations providing for charges to be made by a local authority for the inspection of meat; or whether he will allow local authorities to adopt bye-laws in respect of private slaughterhouses.
Mr. AmoryThis is proving a more difficult problem than I had expected. It is part of the general problem of the siting of slaughterhouses which is being examined by the Interdepartmental Committee. I can assure the hon. Member that I am giving the matter close attention.
§ Mr. HyndWill the Minister bear in mind that it was last November that I first mentioned this matter, that all the 806 time this delay is going on local authorities are carrying pretty heavy expenditure in having to pay extra fees to their officials while private slaughterhouses are carrying on Sunday slaughtering?
Mr. AmoryI do not dissent from what the hon. Gentleman has said, but my object is to try and arrive at a proper inspection of meat. I am anxious to try to find means of doing that, and to ensure the greatest agreement between all the parties concerned.