§ Mr. Websterasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now introduce legislation to provide for the humane slaughter of poultry.
§ Mr. SoamesMy Department and that of the Secretary of State for Scotland have been in touch with Animal Welfare interests on this subject for some time. The Secretary of State and I are now satisfied that the technical problems have been sufficiently explored to warrant proposals for legislation being formally discussed. We therefore propose to issue proposals accordingly, and to invite all interested parties to comment on them.