HL Deb 07 August 1972 vol 334 cc852-4

[No. 18]

Clause 24, page 18, line 6, at end insert: ( ) The following provisions of this Act, that is to say—

  1. (a) paragraphs (a), (c), (d) and (e) of subsection (1), and subsections (2) and (3), of section 6, section 7, and Schedule 1;
    2. 853
  2. (b) Schedule 5 so far as it relates to the Slaughterhouses Act 1954, to sections 65, 70(1) and 75 to 78 of the Food and Drugs Act 1955, to the Slaughterhouses Act 1958 and to section 54(2) of the London Government Act 1963,
shall not come into force until 1st January 1974.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 18. The purpose of this Amendment is to postpone, with one exception, the introduction of the slaughterhouse provisions of Clause 6 and Clause 7 until January 1, 1974, so that both the public and the private sectors of the industry can reassess future requirements in the light of the new proposals and put in hand any transitional arrangements in an orderly manner. The exception is the removal of Ministerial control over public slaughterhouse charges in England and Wales (there is in fact no control over the charges made in Scotland). The Government agree with local authorities that they should have financial freedom in the operation of their public slaughterhouses, and it is therefore proposed that this control should be removed as from the date of enactment of the Bill. I beg to move.

Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(Earl Ferrers.)

LORD HOY

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl for his explanation; and I was grateful also to hear him say that this gave a little more freedom to the local authorities to fix the charges. I am now about to say something which I am sure must be out of order but I will say it in one sentence. I understand that in very recent legislation dealing with slaughterhouses—I think it is the Industry Bill—slaughterhouses have been left out for support from Government grant. I have drawn it to the attention of one noble Lord and I would merely take the opportunity when we are discussing slaughterhouses to bring it to the attention of the noble Earl so that he might have a look at this particular problem before we deal with the Industry Bill. Otherwise I have nothing more to say to the Amendment. The important part I think is the point I have just raised.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I am glad that the noble Lord, Lord Hoy, said that he was quite sure he was out of order. I shall certainly take note of the point he has raised which I believe is in fact already receiving attention.