§ Mrs. Corbetasked the Minister of Food whether he will now allow local authorities to proceed with plans for building new slaughterhouses.
§ Mr. StracheyI am glad to say that I have secured the agreement of my right hon. Friends the Ministers of Health and Agriculture to a slight modification of the present arrangements for England and Wales. It is the Government's intention to prepare plans for the marketing and distribution of all the main foods, as part of its long-term food policy; but no final
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1936. 1938. Superintending Inspector … £738 12s. × £30–£953 13s. £850 × £30–£1,000 Divisional Inspector … £634 19s. × £25–£738 12s £700 × £25–£850 Inspector … £396 17s. × £18–£634 19s £400 × £18–£508 × £25–£700 1946. "Basic" salaries (London). Inclusive salaries (London). Superintending Inspector … £1,200 × £50–£1,400 £1,320–£1,520 Divisional Inspector … £950 × £30–£1,150 £1,055–£1,270 Inspector … £450 × £25–£900 £540–£1,005 Explanatory Notes. (i) The "basic" salaries or 1946 are notional only, since all officers received "consolidation additions" to bring them up to the inclusive salaries shown. The scales have since been consolidated at approximately the inclusive figures. (ii) The 1946 scales are London rates which are subject to deductions for provincial differentiation, amounting, according to locality, to £15 or £30 at the lowest point and ranging up to £42 or £85 at the highest. The 1936 and 1938 rates were not subject to provincial differentiation. decision on slaughtering policy can be taken for some time or will be taken until all the interests concerned have been consulted. Meanwhile, it would obviously be unwise to launch a far-reaching building programme, especially during the present shortage of labour and materials.
Meat rationing and consequently the control of slaughtering on present lines must continue for some time. It has therefore been decided that at certain points, where present facilities are seriously inadequate and where a public slaughterhouse would clearly fit in with any likely longterm scheme, local authorities should be encouraged to go ahead with plans for the erection of new slaughterhouses.
I must emphasise that only a comparatively small number of places will be affected, but we hope to secure a much needed improvement where conditions are particularly unsatisfactory at present, so far as is compatible with other demands on building labour and materials.