HC Deb 10 August 1916 vol 85 cc1227-8
67. Mr. FIELD

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the losses of fresh meat consigned to London from Scotland; whether such losses are due to delays in transit or to lack of properly refrigerated cars; and whether steps are being taken to ensure that such avoidable waste shall not be repeated, having regard to the scarcity and dearness of all kinds of meat?

Mr. HARCOURT

I have not received any complaints in this matter, but I shall be happy to make inquiries if my hon. Friend will send me particulars of the cases he has in mind.

71. Mr. G. FABER

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the Government is taking no steps to deal with the increasingly urgent question of meat shortage in this country; and whether a Bill has recently been passed into law in Russia prohibiting the consumption by civilians of any form of meat throughout Russia on four days of the week?

Mr. HARCOURT

The measures taken by the Government in connection with frozen meat supplies have been explained to the House from time to time. In view of the near approach of the season at which home-bred meat becomes more abundant I doubt if it is quite accurate to say that the question of meat shortage is increasingly urgent, but the general question of food prices and supplies is now under the consideration of a Committee presided over by my right hon. Friend the Member for the Tyneside Division. I have seen in the newspapers references to the Russian measure to which my hon. Friend alludes.

Mr. FABER

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that already meat is passing outside the purchasing power of great numbers of the people of this country?

Mr. HARCOURT

I much regret the present price of meat, but I am hopeful it will go lower soon.

Mr. FABER

Could not some advantage be derived from the institution of what are called "meatless days"?

Mr. HARCOURT

I do not think it would improve the position of people who want more meat or cheaper meat by telling them they must not eat meat at all.

Mr. FABER

If we had meatless days, would that not tend to lower prices and bring meat within the purchasing power of the poorer classes?

Mr. HARCOURT

That is a matter of opinion.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the fact that the Russian Government has prohibited grain being used for the production of alcohol so as to increase the production—

Mr. SPEAKER

We are not now talking about drink.