asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce regulations to increase the meat content of sausages provided in catering establishments; and if he will make a statement.

No. The minimum meat content for sausages prescribed in the meat products regulations applies at the point of sale to the consumer whether this is in a catering establishment or in a retail shop.

How much longer are we to be fobbed off with second-rate sausages when we eat out? Is the hon. Lady aware that as long ago as July last year her predecessor said that he would examine the catering sausages loophole, but there has been no improvement. Last month the Daily Mirror found four out of six samples of catering sausages deficient in meat content. When are we to have effective action?

I assure the hon. Lady that a catering sausage with less than the minimum prescribed meat content cannot legally be sold to consumers. I understand her concern. As this question has led to misunderstandings in some quarters, this part of the regulations will be reconsidered. The Food Standards Committee has been asked to review this matter in 1974.