asked the Minister of Food what steps he is taking to increase the number of licensed slaughterhouses; and how many does he plan to have in operation by 29th September, 1951.

We have already, as a result of a survey made during the summer, brought nine extra slaughterhouses into use. We are encouraging local authorities to build slaughterhouses at certain places where existing facilities are seriously inadequate and where there seems to be a permanent need for additional ones, and we are also building two model slaughterhouses at Fareham and Guildford. In reply to the second part of the Question I should not like to make any forecast at this stage; and in any case it is not the number of slaughterhouses but their capacity and location which counts.