asked the Minister of Food whether he will give an assurance that no further Supplementary Estimates will be required to cover trading deficits during the current financial year.

Like my predecessors, I must decline to forecast the outcome of future trading operations.

Is the Minister aware that, with his shocking record during the past few months, his ominous refusal to answer this Question will be regarded with suspicion and dismay, not only by the Chancellor but by the unfortunate taxpayer?

If I may be permitted to give the hon. and gallant Gentleman a word of advice, it is to warn him to keep off this topic, as one of my predecessors still holds the record for one single Supplementary Estimate.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend assure us that, if this subject comes before the House, he will secure a little more interest from the Labour Party, because only 10 hon. Members opposite showed any interest on the last occasion?

asked the Minister of Food how the loss of £2,446,911 incurred by his Department for the quarter ended 30th September, 1953, on account of overgrading of livestock, condemnations after slaughter and re-grading of meat compares with the quarter ended 31st December last.

The information for the last quarter of 1953 is not yet available. I will send it to the hon. and gallant Member when it is ready.

In view of the fact that we are more than half-way through the current quarter, is it not curious that we still have not received the figures for December, 1953? Is not this another case in which the activities of the Ministry of Food are being viewed with considerable suspicion by the unfortunate taxpayer?

I am afraid this is another unfortunate instance of my having followed the example of my predecessors.