§ 53. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can explain the decline in meat supplies; whether supplies have been affected by price adjustments; whether he has evidence of the holding back of meat supplies; and whether he can make a statement as to the position, during the next three months?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRI of FOOD (Mr. Clynes)The decline in meat supplies is primarily due to the fact that the imported meat, which before the War was consumed by the civil population, is now, for the most part, required by, and allocated to, the Allied Armies, and civilian requirements have, therefore, to be met almost entirely out of home-killed supplies. The shortage of concentrated feeding-stuffs has operated to reduce the number of beasts fit for slaughter in this country during the early months of the year. The fixing of maximum prices is bound to cause difficulties in distribution where the supply of the commodity is not equal to the demand. These difficulties, in the case of meat, are being adjusted by the scheme of distribution recently initiated by the Ministry of Food. There is no evidence of a holding back of meat supplies now. The Food Controller will make a further statement as to the general position at an early date.
§ Mr. LOUGHDoes the hon. Gentleman think that the decline in the meat supply is to some extent due to his Ministry having fixed the lowest price for the month of January, which is the dearest month of the year for the production of meat?
Mr. CLINESI do not think the decline in the meat supply is clue to any great extent to causes other than those enumerates? in the answer.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEWill the hon. Gentleman state whether the further statement by the Food Controller to which he refers will be delivered in the House of Lords?
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSENot at the Aldwyeh Club, I hope.
§ Sir FRANCIS LOWEHas any revision been recently made in the price the cattle dealers are allowed to charge, and will that have any effect on the supply—in render the supply greater?
Mr. CHANCELLORHas the hon. Gentleman seen a statement made by a 1734 well-known cattle dealer giving figures to show that the arrangements for the intermediate parties have increased the cost of cattle per head by over £7?
§ Mr. CLYNESComments made upon the subject of food must be discounted very often according to the sources from which they come.
§ 56. Colonel YATEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the resolution passed at the annual meeting of the Leicestershire Agricultural Society on 12th January, stating that the main cause of the meat shortage is because Lord Rhondda refused to alter the price of Army beef, fixed at 60s. per cwt. as from 1st January, 1918, soon enough to avert this disaster; and what steps he proposes to take in order to avoid a repetition of the present shortage?
Mr. CLINESThis resolution has been received by the Food Controller, who cannot, however, agree that the main cause of the present shortage is that suggested. The maximum prices for live cattle now subsisting, which were fixed after consultation with representatives of agricultural interests, are, in the opinion of the Food Contrcller, sufficiently high to secure a fair profit to the farmer producing cattle for slaughter. The Food Controller will not hesitate to take such other steps as experience may suggest to ensure such a supply of home-produced meat as may be possible under present conditions.
§ Mr. W. THORNEHas the Food Controller any power to make farmers put beasts upon the market?
Mr. CLINESIf we had that power, as indeed we have, I am not sure that it would be beneficial to the public to exercise it. It is not always advisable merely to take the produce. We want to have the good will and the service as well.
§ Mr. THORNESupposing you have not the good will?
§ Mr. G. LAMBERTIs it a fact that farmers have cattle which they are withholding from the market?
§ 58. Mr. GILBERTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether a large quantity of beef has recently been condemned at Smithfield 1735 Market suffering from tuberculosis and other diseases; if he will tate what the quantity was and where this meat was slaughtered; and what. steps he has taken to prevent any repetition of this complaint and consequent loss of food for London?
Mr. CLINESThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The information asked for in the second part will not be available until the early part of next month. As in most cases the diseases are not. app Trent until after slaughter, it is impossible to take any steps to prevent the occurrence of such incidents.