§ Major W. MURRAYasked the Minister of Food whether the town councils of Dumfries, Annan, and Lockerbie have represented to him that an order issued by the Ministry of Food compelling farmers to send 50 per cent. of their sheep (on sale) alive to Glasgow for slaughter is causing unemployment in the local slaughterhouses, and threatens loss to the ratepayers owing to the reduction of dues; and whether, seeing that these slaughterhouses were recently improved and enlarged at the instance of the Ministry of Food, he will take steps to secure the ratepayers against any loss which the action of his Department may entail?
§ Mr. McCURDYI have received representations on this subject. There would appear, however, to be no foundation for the suggestion that loss has been caused to the ratepayers in the towns referred to by the reduction of slaughtering dues.