§ 65. Mr. P. A. HARRISasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his Department has made plans for the disposal of the extra supply of beef that is likely to be put on the market in October owing to the maturing of fat cattle; whether they have freezing plant at their disposal for the preservation of British beef during the winter months; and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability of increasing the meat ration in the autumn?
§ Mr. PARKERThe total supplies of home-killed beef and mutton available in October, 1917, did not exceed the quantity required monthly to maintain the meat ration at its present level. It is not anticipated that the rate of slaughter this year will be in excess of that of last year, especially as there is an ascending scale of prices for live stock sold for slaughter between November, 1918, and June, 1919. There will, therefore, be no difficulty in utilising all available supplies of home-killed mutton and beef as they come forward.
§ Mr. HARRISIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that in the Autumn it will be necessary to kill a certain percentage of cattle owing to the heavy cost of keeping them during the winter?
§ Mr. PARKERI have no doubt that is so, but the opinion of the Department is that there will be no such increase. We shall be able to utilise the amount, and owing to the ascending scale of prices there will be no difficulty about it.
§ Mr. HARRISHas any increased provision for refrigerating plant been made?
§ Mr. PARKERThe hon. Member had better put that question down. I really could not answer it.