§ 98. Mr. R. Morganasked the Minister of Food what complaints he has received on behalf of farmers with regard to the system of weighing animals sent in for slaughter; and whether farmers are at present given in all cases all the information that is necessary for them to establish what they, as experts, consider to be the weight of the animals they send in?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI am not aware of any complaints with regard to the 1557W system of weighing animals sold to the Ministry of Food. Fat cattle are purchased on actual live weight, and farmers can see their animals weighed at the collecting centre. Fat sheep are purchased on the basis of the dead weight as estimated by the certifying authority at the collecting centre, and the estimated dead weight is furnished to the farmer concerned.
As regards information relating to actual dead weights of the fat cattle and sheep, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chatham (Captain Plugge) on 20th February. Fat pigs are purchased on the basis of the actual dead weights of the animals, and this information is furnished to the farmer.