§ 23. Mr. Sparksasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the shortage of sanitary inspectors, if he will transfer to his Department the responsibility for meat inspection in the borough of Acton in view of the fact that such meat and meat products are produced for sale and consumption, over a wide area of the country and is therefore a national and not a local responsibility.
§ Mr. NugentI have consulted my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, who is also concerned in this matter. We are aware of the difficulties caused by the shortage of sanitary inspectors and of the special circumstances affecting Acton. But we are satisfied that we should not be justified in seeking to relieve local authorities of their statutory responsibilities for meat inspection.
§ Mr. SparksDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that the ratepayers of Acton are not only having to finance the national service but are finding that the public health department is unable to carry out its functions as a third of the sanitary inspectors have to be earmarked for inspecting meat, which is a priority? In view of the shortage of sanitary inspectors and the fact that this is a national and not a local responsibility, will he reconsider his attitude?
§ Mr. NugentWe are sympathetic towards the problem in Acton. There are really two problems; one is the shortage of sanitary inspectors and the other is the additional cost falling on Acton. My 11 right hon. Friend has undertaken to reconsider the matter in the light of the Report on slaughterhouses, and we hope that we may have some useful results from that.