§ 111. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Food the largest and the smallest average number of slaughterhouses licensed in each of the periods 1935 to 1938 and 1943 to 1945, respectively; how many are licensed at the latest known date; how many additional ones he intends to license this year; of each of these totals, how many are in standard satisfactory buildings and how many are still in premises which have 230W previously been condemned; and what action he is taking to meet the concern at this matter.
Mr. AmorySeparate figures are not available for each of the years 1935 to 1945. In 1938 there were about 12,000 licensed or registered slaughterhouses in England and Wales. During the period of meat control from 1940 to June of this year the average number of private slaughterhouses used by the Ministry of Food was about 400. On 1st August, 1954, there were 4,368 licensed private slaughterhouses and 220 public slaughterhouses.
In reply to the remainder of the Question, the responsibility for licensing slaughterhouses rests solely on the local authorities who in considering applications for licences no doubt take into account existing statutory requirements about sanitary conditions.
§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Food what progress has been made by the inter-Departmental committee considering the future siting of slaughterhouses; and when their report is expected.
Mr. AmoryThe Committee for England and Wales have felt bound to call for further evidence from the various interests concerned in view of the likely effects of decontrol on the arrangements for the marketing of fatstock and the distribution of meat. Consideration of this additional evidence may make it impracticable for the Committee to report by the end of this year, but I hope a report will be made by the early part of next year.