4. Mr.s. Slaterasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is yet in a position to state when further regulations are to be introduced on the staining of meat unfit for human consumption.
§ Mr. John HareI cannot add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Robert Cooke) on 9th April, when I said that proposals for new regulations were being prepared and would be sent to interested organisations for comment as soon as possible. It is too early to say when new regulations will be made.
Mr.s. SlaterDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that there ought to be some urgency in this, in view of the need to safeguard people— not animals particularly but people— from possibly being sold meat unfit for human consumption, either in the raw or in made-up commodities? Will not the right hon. Gentleman see whether it can be speeded up in view of this danger?
§ Mr. HareI do not entirely disagree with the hon. Lady. We have to look at this with a sense of proportion. The sale 572 year? Will we be short of beef for the rest of the year?
§ Mr. HareNo. There is every hope that home production should show an upward trend towards the end of the year, when we shall begin to get the benefit of the record number of calves which have been retained for beef. 1 think that the situation will improve.
§ Following are the detailed figures:
§ of unfit meat or knacker meat for human consumption is prohibited by the Food and Drugs Act, 1955. I have no information available to me that local authorities are not enforcing that Act.
§ On the hon. Lady's general point, 1 have said that I do not wish there to be any undue delay, but there are considerable differences of opinion on this subject. They have been expressed from both sides of the House. I must ensure that there is proper consultation with authorities who have views on this and who have a right to be consulted.