§ Lieut.-Colonel Walker-Smithasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that many thousands of birds sold as stock poultry are killed for consumption immediately after sale; and what action he proposes to take in regard thereto.
Dr. Summer skillYes, Sir, the effective regulation of the poultry trade would 179W require a stringent control of supplies and distribution of both stock and table birds which could not be justified under present conditions. In these circumstances, the efforts of the Ministry's officers are, and will continue to be, directed to the detection of cases in which poultry bought ostensibly for stock purposes is killed for the table and to the prosecution of offenders. A number of convictions have already been obtained.