§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide advance payment to those farmers wishing to send their 30-month-old cattle to slaughter but who are unable to do so due to insufficient capacity at slaughterhouses and renderers. [259]
§ Mr. BaldryWe have no plans to do so. The weekly slaughter rate has been more than doubled, to over 50,000 animals, through the injection of an additional £16.6 million for extra cold storage and changes in rendering practice. As from 4 November, priority will be given to animals over 30 months old awaiting slaughter which have been registered with the Intervention Board under the registration system announced on 21 October.