asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the commission have made any schemes for setting up slaughter-houses or abattoirs under Part V of the Livestock Industry Act, 1937; and, if so, where are they located or planned to be erected?

No, Sir. I am not at present in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave to a question on the subject asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Sir P. Hurd) on 13th February.

Is the Minister not aware that farmers are anxious to improve their marketing methods and are very much in favour of the scheme, and will he not do something to hasten it?

Seeing that the Act has been on the Statute Book for two years and thousands of farmers and butchers regard national slaughter-houses as fundamental, can the Minister say how much more delay there is going to be?

I am satisfied that the Livestock Commission are getting on with the work as quickly as they can, but it is not so easy as they thought at the beginning that it would be.

Can the Minister give any indication of the cause of the delay?

Negotiations are still going on to try to get these three abattoirs set up.