§ Mr. Aspinwallasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will suspend the meat inspection 109W regulations in view of the severe damage that the current dispute between the National Association of Local Government Officers and local authorities is causing to certain abattoir owners.
§ Mrs. FennerAlthough some slaughterhouses have been badly affected by the current dispute, the supply of meat over the country as a whole has not been seriously disrupted. In present circumstances I do not consider that any action of the kind suggested would be justified.
§ Mr. Aspinwallasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the present industrial dispute, if he will authorise the Ministry veterinary service to carry out meat inspection duties at establishments where there has been a serious loss of production causing loss of jobs and serious financial consequences.
§ Mrs. FennerThe Government are not a party to this dispute and, even if sufficient resources were available to the State Veterinary Service to assist in this way, I do not think that such intervention would be helpful in present circumstances.