asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why, in view of the fact that Northern Ireland produces more meat than is consumed there, it has been necessary to impose a local cut of one-third in the meat ration of Londonderry?

Whilst, over the year as a whole, Northern Ireland produces more meat than is required to supply the ration, local production falls below requirements at this time of the year and during the last two or three weeks it has been necessary to reduce the ration by about one-third, as a temporary measure to avoid the transport of meat from Great Britain. The full ration will be resumed next week.