§ Miss Quennellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) to what extent slaughterhouses in the United Kingdom conform to standards in European countries, details of which are available to him through international sources;
(2) how many slaughterhouses exist in the United Kingdom; and what were the dates of their construction and the dates of subsequent modernisation to their buildings;
(3) how many slaughterhouses have separate provision for the urgent slaughter of farm-arrived casualties.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesThere are 2,231 slaughterhouses in England, Wales and Scotland. Date of construction in each case is not available. Improvements are continually being made and many have been modernised in40W the last ten years. All slaughterhouses are subject to regulations designed to ensure good hygiene standards and the humane treatment of animals. In Northern Ireland they are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Government.
Since our domestic regulations differ in some respects from those required by the E.E.C. for international trade, occupiers of slaughterhouses wishing to trade with E.E.C. countries must have specific approval. Currently 66 slaughterhouses have been approved as conforming with E.E.C. regulations, but it is not known how many others could be approved if their owners so desired.
Separate provision for the urgent slaughter of casualty animals is not required by law and I do not know the extent of such facilities. Prevention of cruelty regulations require the speedy slaughter of animals in pain and hygiene regulations require all diseased animals to be laired and slaughtered separately.