§ 3. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the present unsatisfactory position, he will take steps to ensure that councils can enforce a decision arrived at in open council to impose meat inspection charges on abattoirs within their rural district areas.
§ Mr. GodberMy right hon. Friend is aware of the difficulties of meat inspection in some rural areas and is considering the problem, but I am not in a position at this stage to make a statement.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsWill my hon. Friend remember that this is putting the local rural councils in an extremely difficult position because they are unable to enforce the inspection, as a result of which, apparently, a lot of meat throughout the whole country is going uninspected? Will my hon. Friend take steps to look at the matter again to see if he can find some method whereby he can give local authorities the power to impose inspection charges on the wholesale butchers?
§ Mr. GodberI realise that this is a difficult problem, particularly in certain areas, and I know that, especially in the South-West, there are special problems. My right hon. Friend is well aware of this. We are trying to find some way of dealing with the problem but, as I have said, I am not in a position to make a statement at this stage.
§ 4. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is yet in a position to increase the grants for travelling expenses for meat inspectors in rural areas; and if he will state the present position.
§ Mr. GodberNo, Sir. It has not been found practicable to take into account any special local circumstances in applying this grant. It is based on the national average cost of meat inspection.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsAs my hon. Friend is unable to accede to my request in my previous Question, will he look further at the question of giving grants in special cases to rural councils with a very small penny rate, so that they can once again get the meat inspected in their areas, which is impossible at the moment? 536 Surely the present state of affairs is against the national interest?
§ Mr. GodberI am aware of this problem, but I do not think it can be solved in this way. We have tried, by the introduction of these grants, to help over the country as a whole, and I am sure it has helped a great deal. As a result of this action, the percentage of meat inspected has increased very materially. As I indicated, my right hon. Friend is trying to find other ways of getting the whole matter settled. I am sorry that I cannot say anything further.
Mrs. SlaterCould the hon. Gentleman say how soon he expects that the problem will be settled? In everybody's interests, all meat ought to be inspected and everything possible should be done to this end. Can the hon. Gentleman say how long we must wait before anything is done?
§ Mr. GodberI entirely agree with the hon. Lady about the need to inspect meat and I shall not be satisfied until this has been achieved. As I have indicated, there are special problems. I cannot set a time limit. I can only assure the hon. Lady that we are as anxious as she is to make progress.