HC Deb 25 October 1950 vol 478 cc352-3W
62. Mr. Cooper-Key

asked the Minister of Food the comparative quantities of home-grown meat available for slaughter as at 29th September, 1939, 1945 and 1950; what percentage of these livestock were slaughtered; and what factors are preventing a higher proportion from being killed and thus increasing the meat ration.

Mr. Webb

Information as to the numbers sold in the last week of September, 1939, is not available but I give below the numbers of home-fed animals purchased by my Department in the last week of September, 1945 and 1950. All stock is normally slaughtered within a few days of purchase and no meat has been lost to the ration because we could not accept stock from farmers.

Following is the information

The numbers of stock purchased by the Ministry of Food in Great Britain are as follow:

Cattle Calves Sheep and Lambs Pigs
1945 44,855 35,211 130,352 26,911
1950 70,612 42,190 207,491 52,198