§ Mr. W. SHAWasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) if he is aware that farmers in Scotland cannot dispose of their fat cattle to the best advantage, as they cannot get licences in sufficient numbers for fat cattle for slaughter in Glasgow, and if, under these circumstances, he will issue instructions that applications for such licences from Scottish farmers are to be fully satisfied before Irish cattle are imported into Glasgow, especially as the cost of such importations from Belfast to Glasgow is borne by the public; (2) if he is aware that numbers of Irish cattle are being sold and killed for beef in Glasgow every week, while before the beef control was instituted very few fat cattle were forwarded from Ireland at this season of the year; and if, under the circumstances, he will issue instructions that all Irish cattle imported into Glasgow to be sold as fat cattle are to be inspected by a super-grader or slaughter-house Government agent before they are allowed to be classed as finished fat cattle?
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§ Mr. PARKERMy right hon. Friend has made enquiries into this matter, and is satisfied that there is no foundation for the statement that Scottish farmers have difficulty in obtaining licences for the slaughter of fat cattle in Glasgow. He is aware that the numbers of Irish cattle received for slaughter in Glasgow are larger now than during the corresponding period before control, but this is due chiefly to changes in the methods of farming practised in Ireland. All Irish cattle imported into Glasgow for sale as fat cattle are already subject to the inspection of experts before slaughter.