§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the President of the Local Government Board if he can state the standard of inspection of meat adopted by the various municipalities throughout the country; the nature of the qualifications held by inspectors of meat; and the number of carcases confiscated for disease during the three years ending 31st December, 1908?
§ Mr. BURNSThe inspectors appointed by sanitary authorities are empowered by the Public Health Acts to seize meat which is diseased, unsound, unwholesome, or unfit for human consumption. There is no general code of instructions in regard to meat inspection, but the Local Government Board have from time to time urged on local authorities the importance of uniform and efficient inspection. The inspectors referred to hold various qualifications. A considerable and increasing number of them possess the certificate granted by the Royal Sanitary Institute after examination in meat inspection, and this subject also forms part of the requirements of the Sanitary Inspectors Examination Board, which sanitary inspectors in London are required to satisfy. In some of the largest towns meat inspection is undertaken or superintended by officers with veterinary qualifications. I have no information as to the number of carcases seized by inspectors of the sanitary authorities in the period referred to in the last part of the question.