§ Colonel WHELERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he has received a resolution from the Central Associated Chambers of Agriculture protesting against the breach of faith with farmers by the recent action of the Ministry of Food in sending back from the markets fat cattle and sheep and refusing to allow them to be sold although ripe for the butcher; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As was stated yesterday, the holding back of cattle at the present time is the only policy which will secure the necessary meat ration for the first five months of next year. No undertaking was ever given to accept all stock which farmers 1299W might desire to sell regardless of national requirements, and there is, therefore, no breach of faith involved. Any additional expenditure incurred will be met by the increased maximum prices which have now been sanctioned. I am confident that farmers will meet this difficult situation with the resource and energy which they have already displayed.