§ 74. Sir R. COOPERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that the price paid for cattle belonging to the Irish farmer is unrestricted and frequently exceeds 100s. a live cwt., whilst the price paid to the British farmer is restricted to 76s. a live cwt.; will he say on what grounds this financial advantage is accorded to Irish farmers; does the British taxpayer pay the difference; and what is the estimated cost to the Treasury for 1918 of this privilege?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe answer to this question was printed in Thursday's OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Captain WRIGHTWas not a guarantee given to the wholesale butchers, and has not something like £45,000 a week been paid under that guarantee?
§ Mr. CLYNESA considerable sum has been paid. As to the exact sum per week I should require notice.
Sir F. HALLDoes not it amount to this, that the British farmer as a taxpayer is subsidising his Irish competitor?
§ Mr. CLYNESI am not able to argue the matter, but I do not for a moment accept that construction.
§ 79. Mr. HARRY HOPEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the fact that farmers have been asked to produce a maximum amount of beef, and that, owing to the unrestricted prices of cattle in Ireland, the usual number of two and three-year-old store cattle are not coming over from Ireland, he will fix similar prices for cattle in Ireland as in England and Scotland, so that farmers may obtain the raw material for beef production without which a famine in beef in the autumn and winter months is probable?
§ Mr. CLYNESIt is not practicable to fix maximum prices for live cattle in Ireland, owing to the difficulties involved in setting up a grading system in the markets in that country. Steps are, however, now-being taken to set up at the British ports to which Irish cattle are consigned the necessary machinery for their grading and allocation. When this system is fully operative, prices for fat cattle in Ireland should fall automatically to the level of the controlled prices in Great Britain, and the price of store cattle should be correspondingly reduced.
§ Mr. LOUGHDoes the hon. Gentleman mean in this answer that the prices fixed by the Food Controller for bacon and butter will not apply to England any more than to Ireland?
§ Mr. CLYNESNo; that is a different matter altogether untouched either by question or answer.
§ Mr. BUTCHERTo what Minister is the duty entrusted of fixing the price of cattle in Ireland?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe price of cattle is fixed by the Food Controller both in the case of Ireland and of this country.
§ Mr. DIXONWould it not be far better to raise the price of English cattle as well as Irish? You are afraid to do it.
§ Mr. CLYNESIt would not be better for the great mass of consumers in this country.
§ Mr. DIXONIs it not the general producers you have to consider rather than the Irish Members in this House?
§ Mr. CLYNESWe have taken action on the line which alone considers the mass of the consumers.
§ Mr. DILLONIs it not more important to get the food and encourage production?