§ 13. Mr. James Davidsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now satisfied that all meat imported from overseas has been slaughtered in accordance with standards applicable to slaughterhouses within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MackieWe do not impose methods of slaughter on supplying countries, but we periodically check on standards of production and hygiene, and take the necessary steps to remove from approved lists in the Official Gazettes any establishments which do not come up to hygiene standards in this country.
§ Mr. DavidsonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that according to a very good source of information—a senior meat inspector who travels very widely—much of the meat imported to this country is slaughtered under conditions which would be intolerable in Britain? Is not this form of hypocrisy detrimental to the British agricultural industry?
§ Mr. MackieAs I have said, we have no control over conditions in countries which supply us with meat. We may deprecate these methods, but we cannot change them. In a good many of the countries from which we import slaughtering is very humane.
§ Mr. WellbelovedIs my hon. Friend aware that slaughterhouses in the Argentine supplying us have been inspected and are approved?
§ Mr. MackieYes. As I said, some have been inspected and approved, but others did not come up to standard.