asked the Minister for Health the regulations or by-laws, if any, governing the sale of meat, controlling the maximum proportions of fat, bone, gristle and so on in consumer transactions and if not, the proposals, if any, to introduce regulations in this regard.

As far as hygiene in the sale of meat to the public is concerned, the food hygiene regulations apply to the sale of meat in common with other foodstuffs, their objective being to ensure the safety of meat sold to the public. Control of the maximum proportions of fat, bone, gristle and so on, present in meat would be a matter of consumer protection which is the concern of my colleague the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy.

The remaining questions will appear on to-morrow's Order Paper.