§ MR. COOPERTo ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the present increase in the price of English beef is consequential upon the increase of the price of American chilled beef, and not from any deficiency in the supply of the 61 English beef; and what steps the Board intend to take to secure a cheaper and more plentiful supply of beef.
(Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) There is no evidence of any shortage in our Home supplies of beef, and the recent rise in prices appears to be due to the special conditions affecting our supplies from America at the present time. The Board will continue to do all they can to assist and encourage production.