§ 15. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the President of the Board of Trade the price at which the Board is supplying beef and mutton to public institutions; and the price at which these commodities are being acquired by the War Office?
Mr. HARCOURTThe Board of Trade purchases frozen meat primarily for military purposes, and the meat so used is transferred to the War Office or to the Allied Governments at the full cost price, including cost of meat, freight, and all other expenses. Such meat as belongs to the Board of Trade and is not required for the Armies (mainly Australasian mutton and lamb) is put on the market for sale to the civilian population of this country; the wholesale price varies, but is kept as steady and moderate as possible. A few public institutions that have had difficulties in covering their requirements from private sources are supplied with moderate quantities of this meat by the Board at the wholesale market price of the date of 11 supply, as ascertained by the Board's assessors. The quantity of meat available for sale in this way is, of course, comparatively small.