§ 30. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the recommendation in paragraph 109 of the Oake Committee's Report, that, whenever practicable, veterinary surgeons should be appointed as senior inspectors responsible for groups of non-veterinary meat inspectors, he will take steps to acquire the necessary powers to insist on such supervision by veterinary officers of meat inspection in the case of slaughterhouses towards the cost of which the Government agree to make a financial contribution.
Mr. AmoryNo, Sir. Local authorities are responsible for meat inspection, and the kind of supervision and the officers required are matters best left to their discretion.
§ Mr. HyndIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all local authorities are not equally progressive in these matters and require some lead from the Government? What is the good of the House passing legislation about clean food, and so on, if we do not go to the root of the problem?
Mr. AmoryI do not want the hon. Member to have any doubt in his mind. I assure him that I am very anxious to do everything I can to make sure that the inspection shall be as satisfactory as it can be; but the way in which that is carried out, and the type of officer by whom it is carried out, are matters in which we ought to give a great deal of discretion to the local authorities.
§ Sir F. MedlicottIs my right hon. Friend aware that many local authorities would very warmly welcome any assistance that can be given to them by veterinary surgeons?
Mr. AmoryI agree with my hon. Friend on that, and he will agree with me that there is at present a shortage of veterinary officers.
§ Mr. ChampionDoes the right hon. Gentleman recognise that in this matter we lag behind most of the continental countries, certainly those most advanced 2198 in this matter of meat inspection? Would it not be a good thing if we employed veterinary officers for this purpose of inspection?