§ 45. Mr. R. W. Elliottasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many abattoirs in England and Wales have not yet been brought up to the standards required by the Slaughterhouses Act, 1958; and what action he is taking in this matter.
§ Mr. MackieFourteen, in six local authority districts. We are in close touch with all the authorities concerned so that days may be appointed at the earliest practicable moment in each case.
§ Mr. ElliottI thank the hon. Gentleman for his reply. Does not he agree, however, that this number is too high considering that it is almost 10 years since the passage of the Act? Will he do what he can to see that appalling abattoirs, such as those still being used in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, are closed as soon as possible?
§ Mr. MackieI do not think that progress has been as slow as the hon. Gentleman suggests. There were 1,100 local authority districts with slaughterhouses and only six have not reached their appointed days. I am sorry that the bon Gentleman's own area is one of these We shall do all we can to help.