§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are regulations governing or restricting the amount of animals killed at the same time in any one abattoir.
§ Mr. StrangThere is no direct legislative restriction, but the need to comply with the requirements as to prevention of cruelty to animals and to hygiene imposes an indirect limitation.
§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there is a Government ruling on standards of hygiene and humane killing in all abattoirs.
§ Mr. StrangThese standards are laid down in legislation. The chief provisions are in the Slaughterhouses (Hygiene) Regulations 1958, as amended, SIs 1958/2168 as amended by 1959/1543, 1962/1287 and 1966/1318; the Meat Inspection Regulations 1963, as amended, SIs 1963/1229, 1965/1497, 1971/1179 and 1975/654; the Slaughterhouse Act 1974;224W the Protection of Animals Act 1911; the Slaughter of Animals (Prevention of Cruelty) Regulations 1958, as amended, SIs 1958/2166 and 1959/1493.
§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are regular and unannounced Government inspections of all abattoirs.
§ Mr. StrangThe local authorities, which are responsible for the enforcement of the law, determine the frequency and type of inspections they carry out. Ministry veterinary officers also visit slaughterhouses and make prior arrangements solely with the officers of the enforcing authority.
§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is compulsory in all abattoirs for food animals to be pre-stunned before slaughter.
§ Mr. StrangYes, with the sole exception of slaughter to meet the religious requirements of Jews and Mohammedans. Whatever the method of slaughter, the law requires it to be done without inflicting unnecessary suffering.
§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is permissible for cows in calf to be sent for slaughter.
§ Mr. StrangThe law does not prohibit such animals being sent for slaughter; but with these as with other animals the law requires that unnecessary suffering shall not be inflicted.