§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to the representations made by Scottish farmers as to the necessity for altering the present grading system of the Fat Stock Control Scheme; and whether steps can be taken to prevent the present discrepancy which often arises between the estimated dead-weight of stock and the actual weight of the carcase as finally dressed?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Ayr and Bute (Mr. Sloan) on 15th February. I would add that the Ministry has a staff of qualified inspectors whose duty it is to see that the work of certifying authorities is carried out fairly and uniformly throughout the country. I am satisfied that the grading procedure is operating fairly to producers as a whole and that this will be appreciated by farmers generally in the light of further experience of the scheme.
§ Captain Pluggeasked the Minister of Food whether arrangements can be made authorising the farmer to be supplied on demand with the actual killing-out weights of his cattle, or, alternatively, to enable the farmer to be present at the slaughter-house when the animals are killed?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI regret that the administrative difficulties involved by both the alternatives suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend render their adoption impracticable.