§ Mr. HUNTasked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the Board of Agriculture, whether, in view of the fact that only one-fifth or less of the beef now sold in the principal London market is British or Irish, and seeing that foreign meat is extensively sold as homegrown, he could see his way to introducing legislation to protect the consumers and producers of meat in Great Britain and Ireland from the deception now inflicted on them?
§ The TREASURER of the HOUSEHOLD (Sir E. Strachey)The Merchandise Marks Acts, 1887 and 1891, and the Merchandise Marks (Prosecution) Act, 1894, enable proceedings to be taken in cases in which false trade descriptions are applied to meat. It is not proposed to introduce further legislation on the subject.
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI think so.
§ Mr. HUNTasked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether he had any official information showing that the operations 1514 of the American Beef Trust have had the effect of injuring and diminishing the industry of breeding and feeding cattle in the United Kingdom, and so diminishing the supply of Home-grown beef and injuring industries dependent on it; whether he was aware that the Corporation of the City of London have now recognised that the American Beef Trust controls the principal London marked and that in consequence the responsible committee of the Corporation have decided to restrict future lettings as far as possible to firms or tenants prepared to enter into an agreement to foster English trade by every practicable means; and, if so, whether the Board of Agriculture intend to take any, and, if any, what, action in the same direction?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. HUNTIs the Government going to allow this Corporation to give a preference to beef and mutton as is done by the War Office in the case of pork only?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThat does not arise out of the answer.