HC Deb 25 May 1950 vol 475 cc292-3W
Mr. Hastings

asked the Minister of Food what measures are taken by his Department to ensure that all sheep are stunned before slaughter; and what steps he takes to ensure that the law is being complied with in such cases.

Mr. Webb

We have always insisted that our slaughtering contractors comply with the Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933, and have given instructions that all animals (except those ritually killed for orthodox Jewish and Moslem communities) must be stunned either by a mechanical humane killer or an electrical instrument. A full-time manager is employed at each slaughterhouse and it is part of his duty to see that these instructions are observed.