§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that farmers are at present 272W sending in so many animals for slaughter that there will be a shortage of home-produced animals next spring; and whether he will stop this by indicating to centres how many beasts they are to take so as to secure that a proportion of foreign meat is supplied from cold storage to butchers who at present can only get expensive home-produced meat?
§ Mr. BoothbyThis is the time of the year when home-produced meat is always most plentiful, but I am aware that farmers have been sending in for slaughter more fat animals than usual. For the last two weeks limits have been imposed on the numbers of beasts accepted at the collecting centres, and similar limits will be continued so long as entries are exceptionally heavy. We are continuing to make substantial issues of imported meat.