asked the Minister of Agriculture how it is now proposed, under the meat marketing scheme, to pay farmers moneys due to them on account of the sale of their livestock; and how soon after the sale they will receive the money.

The methods of payment to implement the system of guarantees for fatstock set out in the White Paper on Decontrol of Food and Marketing of Agricultural Produce (Cmd. 8989) are now being worked out with the farmers and other interests concerned. Proposals have been made that would enable payments to be effected within a week or so of the actual sale.No difficulty need be expected in any necessary adaptation of these proposals in the event of a Producers Fatstock Marketing Board being established.