HC Deb 17 April 1918 vol 105 cc396-7
57. Captain WRIGHT

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what are the approximate weekly and total numbers during the last three months of cattle bought in Ireland for killing and export to England, Scotland, and Wales; what has been the average price of purchase of the above; and what has been the average weekly and total loss during the same period to the Treasury incurred by reselling them in England at the prices fixed by the Food Controller; and in what proportion this loss to the taxpayer was as an extra profit shared between the producers and middlemen concerned?

Mr. CLYNES

I am sending the hon. Member such figures as are available on this subject, and these will be printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Walsall on Thursday, 11th April.

The following are the figures referred to:

Shipments of Fat Cattle from Ireland to England and Wales and to Scotland.
1918. To England and Wales. To Scotland.
5th January … 7,167 839
12th January … 6,198 1,512
19th January … 5,909 764
26th January … 4,942 1,077
2nd February … 3,593 698
9th February … 4,981 569
16th February … 4,724 295
23rd February … 4,322 288
2nd March … 3,838 226
9th March … 4,761 370
16th March … 1,419 295
23rd March … 4,570 264
30th March … 5,345 230
6th April … 3,994 187
Total … 69,743 7,614
Weekly average … 4,981 543

Average Live-weight Prices of 1st class Pat Cattle at Irish Fairs and Markets.
1918—
January … 72s. 9d. per cwt.
February … 77s. per cwt.
March … 83s. 2d. per cwt.
April … 87s. 6d. per cwt.
Captain WRIGHT

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether that guarantee, admitted yesterday, is still in force and whether payments are still being made under it?

Mr. CLYNES

Yes; I think I can say that.