§ Mr. Royleasked the Minister of Food if he will give the present costs per head for cattle, sheep and pigs, respectively, between farm and collecting centre and between collecting centre and abattoir; and the slaughtering costs.
§ Mr. StracheyThe responsibility for taking animals to collecting centres from farms rests on producers and I have no information about the costs incurred. The present average costs per animal in the United Kingdom of the other two items are estimated to be as follows:
1. Freight, transport and droving of fatstock from collecting centres to slaughterhouses, including feeding and lairage before and during transit:
s. d. Cattle 10 9½ Calves 2 0 Sheep 1 3¾ Pigs (a) 2 4 2. Slaughtering costs and overhead charges at slaughterhouses, excluding administrative expenses:
s. d. Cattle 13 5½ Calves 3 10 Sheep 2 6 Pigs (a) 8 7¾ (a) Excludes pigs used or bacon.