§ Mr. FIELDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that some years ago Parliament sanctioned the Second Reading of a. Bill granting compensation for tuberculosis 1847W compensations; whether he is aware that in the vast majority of cases the animals are purchased in open market at full value; and whether, in view of the scarcity and dearness of meat and the utilisation of horse-flesh, he will consider the advisability of adopting compensation and sterilisation, as practised with economical and sanitary results in Continental countries?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. It has now been arranged that the per head charge on fat cattle shall cover insurance against condemnation in cases in which animals are found to be suffering from tuberculosis. The question of the sterilisation and sale for human consumption of meat which is only slightly affected by tuberculosis is at present under consideration by the Local Government Board and the Ministry of Food.
§ Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state, approximately, the number and value of tuberculised pigs annually confiscated and destroyed for the five years previous to the War; whether this practice still continues; whether he is aware that in Continental countries when pigs are only slightly affected the bodies are sterilised and sold; and whether this system will be adopted in the London Central Meat Market and elsewhere in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERI am not in a position to furnish any exact statistics, but from inquiries which were made last year it appears that the amount of pig meat which is destroyed and which could be used for human food if efficiently sterilised is relatively insignificant. As I have already stated, if any municipalities wish to undertake the sterilisation and sale of such meat I should not desire to place any obstacle in their way.