§ Sir L. Lyleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the report of the food officer for the Rural Council of Salisbury, Wiltshire, that in four weeks over 11,000 pounds of beef, 5,000 pounds of pork, 827 pounds of mutton and a quantity of veal had had to be condemned and whether he can make any statement both on the causes of such waste and the steps taken to prevent its recurrence?
Major Lloyd GeorgeMy attention has been called to report referred to which dealt with a period in November-December, 1940, and I have had it investigated. About 90 per cent, of the meat in question was condemned for disease. The amount of condemnation for this reason at Salisbury slaughterhouse, I am informed, is proportionally the same as before the war. The balance was due primarily to heavy and abnormal slaughtering resulting from outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in 361W the Salisbury area. As a result transport facilities during the period were necessarily of an improvised type and in addition some of the meat was not packed as carefully as it would have been under normal conditions. I can assure my hon. Friend that every effort is being made by my Department to prevent the loss of meat fit for human consumption.