§ Mr. DAYasked the Minister of Health the number of local authorities in England and Wales who have statutory power to adopt the Ministry of Health's model by-law 9b, with reference to the humane slaughter of animals, and who have not done so; and whether he would give particulars?
§ Sir K. WOODThis matter is now in the main governed by the Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933, which came into force on the 1st of January, 1934, and applies to the slaughter of cattle and where a source of electrical supply is available to the slaughter of pigs. The Act may, also, by resolution of the local authority, be applied to the slaughter of sheep. Out of 1,507 local authorities who have power to pass such a resolution, 920 have done so. The Act in effect supersedes these by-laws as regards cattle, and also as regards sheep in areas in which sheep have been brought within the scope of the Act by resolution and as regards pigs in areas in which a source of electrical supply is available. By-laws relating to the slaughter of pigs in areas in which a source of electrical supply is not available have been made by 27 further authorities since the Act came into operation.