§ Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the effect of the regulation that pigs must be taken to official slaughter-houses to be 282W killed and that smallholders and cottagers are practically debarred by this regulation from keeping pigs, the cost of transport for official slaughtering being more than the value of the animal; and whether some modification of the Order can be made?
§ Sir K. WOODI have been asked to reply, and I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answers given to the hon. Members for Devizes (Mr. Hurd) and Hexham (Major C. Brown) on the 12th and 18th ultimo. My right hon. Friend is advised that there is nothing in the Meat Regulations or the Slaughter-houses Order which has the effect of requiring smallholders and cottagers to take their pigs to official or other slaughter-houses to be killed, and he is proposing to issue a Circular to local authorities on the matter.