asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether. in reconsidering Government policy with regard to meat production in this country and in order to reduce its dependence on subsidies, he will urgently review the possibility of establishing machinery which will result in a more rational pattern of modern slaughterhouses and factories which will ensure the application of the most modern methods for the treatment and inspection of meat, as well as its efficient distribution, and the better use of by-products.

This Question covers a wide field and I would ask my hon. Friend to await a statement which I shall be making in the debate on the Supplementary Estimate later today.