§ Sir R. THOMASasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that dissatisfaction prevails in North Wales in connection with the grading of cattle and that the prevailing opinion is that the fees paid to stock grazers at different markets should be withdrawn and their services discontinued; whether he will give this matter his consideration; and whether he will discontinue the practice of allowing 4½ per head of sheep and 2s. 6d. per head of cattle driven to the station and loaded for dispatch to their destination for butchers who sell their permits to the various marts, as these charges add to the cost of living?
Mr. ROBERTSI have been asked to reply. I am not aware that it is the prevailing opinion in North Wales that the present system of live-stock control should be discontinued. As regards the third part of the question, an allowance of 5s. 6d. per head of cattle and 1s. per sheep is made to butchers by the Ministry of Food. This allowance is intended to cover the cost of slaughtering, feeding, lairage, droving, cartage, and porterage, the actual amounts paid in all cases being decided by local arrangement. The figures quoted in the question are not, therefore, fixed by the Ministry of Food, but by agreement between the butchers and drovers concerned.