§ 59. Mr. Clive Bossomasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to secure that local authorities are able to ensure that all home-killed meat is inspected.
§ Mr. SoamesMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I have made Regulation to ensure that all local authorities which have not already done so will provide a full service of meat inspection suited to the requirements of public health and of the meat trade. The Regulations will require that all 7W home-killed meat shall be inspected and marked by local authorities, and that meat shall not be removed from slaughter-houses uninspected. To finance this, the Regulations will empower local authorities to make charges for meat inspection. For two years only there will be an interim period when the requirements will be modified to cover the difficulties which may arise in early stages. During this time we shall be told of any problems so that, where necessary, we can help to find a remedy.
My right hon. Friend and I expect that, when the Regulations come into force on 1st October this year, they will result in an immediate increase in the proportion of home-killed meat inspected, and that all local authorities will be able to organise 100 per cent. inspection by the end of the two-year period.
We shall be laying these Regulations before the House within a few days and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will be laying similar Regulations for Scotland.