§ 8. Mr. Woodburnasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has studied the evidence, sent to him by the right hon. Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire, that calves a few days old are kept hungry and thirsty awaiting 726 slaughter in Gorgie market, Edinburgh; and whether he will take steps to investigate the matter.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. James Stuart)The allegations made in the newspaper report which was sent to me by the right hon. Member and by the hon. and gallant Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Sir A. Gomme-Duncan) have been brought to the notice of my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate, who is investigating them.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that since I sent him that report, I have had information that this practice is common in other markets in Scotland; and that calves are actually sent 200 miles to markets in England, and the without ever having had one feed—die without ever once having tasted their mother's milk? I am told that the piteous cries of these calves, to which some people have become hardened by custom, are really shocking to those whose normal sympathies have not undergone this hardening process. Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree to have a general inquiry into whether this is the case with these calves?
§ Mr. StuartI can assure the right hon. Gentleman that I am not in disagreement in any way with the views which he has expressed, but there is the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act, 1912, the penalties under which were increased in 1954. I can assure him, however, that we will prosecute our inquiries very genuinely in this matter.