Mr. Brian Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now announce the result of his review into the problem of meat inspection in local authority areas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PeartI am today issuing proposals to amend the Meat Inspection Regulations as a further step towards achieving the 100 per cent. inspection of meat before it leaves the slaughterhouse.
The main effect of my proposals would be that, subject to a right of appeal in individual cases, local authorities would be empowered to control the hours during which slaughter may take place in private slaughterhouses in their districts. No change is proposed in the power of local authorities to make charges for meat inspection.
I further propose that my veterinary officers' advisory service to local authorities shall be intensified with a view to promoting uniformly high standards of meat inspection.
I have invited interested organisations and others to comment on these proposals by the end of April, 1966.