§ 8. Mr. Dyeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fat cattle were certified and slaughtered from April to September this year in Great Britain; what percentage weighed up to 8½ cwts.; and what percentage was above 8½ cwts.
§ Mr. GodberIn the twenty-six weeks ended 27th September, 842,700 cattle were certified for slaughter in Great Britain. The percentages for which the hon. Member asks are not readily available, but I will have the figures extracted and will write to him as soon as possible.
§ Mr. DyeDoes not the Joint Parliamentary Secretary think that one of the reasons for the shortage of beef is the number of cattle killed at the lower weights? Has not the reduction in the weight at which the subsidy is paid encouraged far more to be killed, and is not the position now roughly that we need three cattle to produce the same amount of meat as previously we got from two? Why not encourage the farmers to produce good quality cattle but at rather higher weights? Then we would get more.
§ Mr. GodberThese figures are to some extent coloured by the unusual effects of the Smithfield strike, which encouraged a lot of cattle to be brought forward. I would remind the hon. Gentleman, however, that subsidies are paid only on properly finished cattle. No unfinished cattle get the subsidy. I would also remind him that today the housewife looks for smaller joints, and this kind of thing we have to encourage.