§ Captain Medlicottasked the Minister of Food how many officials are employed under the Meat and Livestock Control Scheme in respect of the county of Norfolk, and what is the aggregate amount paid by way of salaries to the officials in question?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe number of full-time officials employed under the Meat and Livestock Control Scheme in respect of the county of Norfolk is 37. The aggregate amount paid by way of salaries is at the rate of £9,967 per annum. There is in addition a staff of 37 employed by the South Eastern Wholesale Meat Supply Association and attached to wholesale meat distribution depots and 62 part-time auctioneers and members of certifying authorities.
§ Sir A. Harbordasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that in the event of any meat being condemned as unfit after arrival at the butchers' shops the loss falls on the retailer as the meat has already been paid for; and what steps he is taking to remedy this grievance?
§ Mr. MorrisonProperty in the meat sold to butchers passes to them at the wholesale distribution depot. In accordance with the usual trade practice, losses arising from condemnation after the arrival of the meat at the butcher's shop fall on the butcher except when the condemnation is due to disease. In such cases a refund is made to the butcher. Full investigation is made into every case of condemnation that is brought by butchers to the notice of the wholesale depot manager concerned.
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§ Sir A. Harbordasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there are only three Government slaughter-houses to meet the needs of Great Yarmouth, the Flegg and Blofield areas; that these are attempting to do the work previously done by 30 slaughter-houses; and, in order to relieve the present congestion and avoid unnecessary transport is he prepared to increase the number of slaughter-houses in these areas?
§ Mr. MorrisonWhile three slaughterhouses in Great Yarmouth kill stock for the areas to which my hon. Friend refers, parts of the Flegg and Blofield area receive a portion of their supplies from Norwich. I am aware that there has been a considerable reduction in the number of slaughter-houses in this area, as in other parts of the country, but it is the capacity rather than the number of slaughter-houses in use which is of importance. I am assured that the capacity of the existing slaughter-houses at Great Yarmouth is adequate for the needs of the area they serve, and I am not satisfied that there are good grounds for adding to their number.