§ Mr. J. P. L. Thomasasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the decision of the Government to set up a central slaughter-house in the city of Hereford has resulted in a shortage and a deterioration of meat Supplies in the county market-towns of Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye; and whether he is now prepared to authorise the re-opening of 2016W one slaughter-house in each of these market-towns?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAs regards the first part of the Question, while during the first two or three weeks of the control scheme the abnormal weather caused a general shortage of home-killed meat, which doubtless affected Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye like other parts of the country, I understand that both towns have secured their full ration requirements. I am not aware that the supplies of meat have deteriorated but if my hon. Friend has details of any specific case in which the meat supplied was not in good condition, I will be glad to have inquiries made into the matter. As regards the last part of the Question, I am advised that apart from the fact that there are insufficient grounds to warrant the opening of additional slaughter-houses, there is in neither town one slaughterhouse of sufficient capacity to serve the needs of the population of that town.