§ Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is in a position to make any statement on the recommendations of the Royal Commission for the Report on Central Abattoirs; how far he is satisfied that there are adequate cold-storage facilities available throughout the country to receive home-grown car-cases, thus providing equal opportunities for the sale of home and overseas meat; and whether, in connection with the policy recommended of the provision of central abattoirs, he will consider the establishment of cold-storage facilities on such sites?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonPart V of the Livestock Industry Act, 1937, provides for the establishment of three experimental central slaughterhouses, and the results shown by these will afford valuable guidance for the consideration in due course of future policy regarding the slaughtering of livestock. The Livestock Commission are at present considering a number of proposals which have been made to them by local authorities and other bodies for the establishment of the three central slaughterhouses in question.
With respect to the question of cold storage, the Commission regard the provision of adequate mechanical cooling facilities at a central slaughterhouse as an essential feature for the purpose of conditioning the meat, but I understand that whilst these coolers could be used for storage for a limited period, the keeping 1072W of home-produced meat in cold store at a temperature below freezing point would have a detrimental effect on the prices obtained by the British farmer.