asked the Minister of Food whether, when meat is rationed and all slaughtering is carried out in Government slaughter-houses, the trimmings from joints will be issued to butchers to be passed on by them to their customers as food for dogs?

Very little trimming of carcases takes place at the selected slaughter-houses, but certain by-products not suitable for human consumption, which are mainly used in the production of livestock feeding-stuffs, including dog foods, are available to manufacturers. In addition, supplies of offals unsuitable for human consumption are obtainable by butchers from the wholesale distribution depots.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that these offals are very difficult to obtain in country districts? What arrangement does he propose for feeding pet dogs, or is he really condemning them to death?

I do not think that any dogs are being condemned to death.