§ Colonel Baldwin-Webbasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the recent slaughter in the United Kingdom of many calf cows who would be due to calve in April, May, or June; and what steps he proposes to take to stop this practice?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI am aware that, owing to the increased demand for home produced meat of all descriptions, there has been an increase in the sales of fat cows for slaughter, but I have no information as to the numbers of such animals that were in calf. The Ministry of Food is now the sole purchaser of all fat beasts for slaughter at fixed prices, and the certifying authorities at collecting centres have been instructed by that Department not to purchase any animal which in their opinion is pregnant, unless they are satisfied that the condition of the animal is such that slaughter is necessary.