asked the Minister of Food why carcases of over 240 lb. classified grade "A," are being sent from his Department abattoir, Woolwich, to manufacturers instead of being reserved for the domestic ration as was previously the rule.

I presume my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to four pig carcases of an average weight of 261 lb. which were too large and too fat for the retail meat trade and were sent to manufacturers during the week commencing 25th April. This involved no change in the normal procedure; clean pig carcases not below the standard of fair quality manufacturing meat are graded "A" for purposes of calculating payments to producers but are allocated to either the retail trade or manufacturers according to size and quality of the carcase.