§ Mr. Snaddenasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what are the powers of Government inspectors at collecting centres; and whether an inspector is empowered to overturn decisions taken by expert graders operating at these centres?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe duties of livestock inspectors appointed by the Ministry of Food are to inspect the grading of livestock presented for sale to the Ministry at the different collecting centres throughout the country, to advise the graders and to ensure that they are carrying out their duties in a fair and efficient manner. The inspectors have no power to over-rule decisions taken by the graders, except that, under the terms of the Livestock Sales Order, 1940, they are empowered under certain conditions to require that the killing out percentage of any beast or the dressed carcase weight of any calf, sheep or lamb shall be determined by reference to the actual dressed carcase weight of the animal as ascertained after slaughter.