§ 59. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Food whether he has now considered the proposal of the deputation from the Newport Town Council last year, asking for permission either to erect a new slaughterhouse or to improve the 7W existing building, which is over 100 years old, out of date, unhygienic and has no modern facilities for the slaughter of animals; and whether he will now give permission for the erection of the new building.
Dr. HillAs announced in the House on 5th November last, my right hon. and gallant Friend has appointed an inter-Departmental Committee to prepare a plan recommending the localities in England and Wales in which slaughterhouses should be sited. Until this plan is ready, approval cannot be given for the building of a new slaughterhouse at Newport.
§ 60. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Food how many animals of each variety, separately, were killed in Government slaughterhouses with the use of a humane killer last year; and how many were not.
Dr. HillStanding instructions at all slaughterhouses used by my Department require that all cattle, calves, sheep and pigs must be stunned by a mechanically operated instrument before slaughter except in the case of animals slaughtered by the Jewish or Mohammedan methods. The numbers slaughtered by the Jewish and Mohammedan methods in 1952 were 73,000 cattle, 16,000 calves, and 129,000 sheep and lambs, representing about 2 per cent. of the total number of these animals slaughtered.