HC Deb 23 January 1963 vol 670 c56
7. Mr. Ridley

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consult leaders of the Jewish community and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with a view to setting up an inquiry into ritual slaughter satisfactory to both bodies.

Mr. Soames

As my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord President of the Council has said in another place, if the Government were to receive a request for an inquiry which they were satisfied would meet with the requirements of the parties representing the conflicting views in this matter, we should give it sympathetic consideration.

Mr. Ridley

In view of the widespread allegations and propaganda about ritual slaughter which have been circulated, does not my right hon. Friend think that it would be better, from the point of view of both parties, if there were an official inquiry to put die public mind at rest?

Mr. Soames

The will of the House was last expressed on this matter as recently as 1956, when a proposal to change the law was rejected on a free vote. More recently, the matter was debated in another place and a Bill there was withdrawn. The Government would have to be satisfied that any proposal for an inquiry was acceptable to the orthodox Jewish community as well as to the opponents of ritual slaughter.