§ Mr. S. MITCHELLasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the licensees of some private slaughter-houses in the upper ward of Lanarkshire have been recently warned that shortly they may receive instructions to discontinue the use of the free bullet humane killer, at present in general use, and to substitute the Schermer killer; and will he inform the House if the Schermer killer is a British invention and if it is manufactured entirely within the United Kingdom?
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§ Sir J. GILMOURThe reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. The responsibility for approving types of mechanically-operated instrument to be used in compliance with the Act passed last year rests with the local authority, and I am not aware whether the local authority in question have issued such an invention as the hon. Member mentioned. As regards the second part of the question, I understand that the Schermer instrument is not a British invention and, so far as I am aware, it is not manufactured entirely in the United Kingdom.