§ 41. Sir J. JARDINEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the Government are purchasing fat cattle in Ireland at prices higher than the maximum price of 75s. for fat cattle in the county of Roxburgh; whether the Food Controller allows cattle to be sold in Ire land to English buyers at prices up to £5 per live cwt.; and whether he is aware that the effect of the high prices prevailing in Ireland is to attract Irish half-fattened store cattle to the Irish markets so as to raise the price and reduce the condition of all store cattle sent to the feeder farmers of the county of Roxburgh, and with the increase of price making it difficult to buy store cattle at prices to allow any profit to feeders under the controlled maximum for fat cattle in that county?
Mr. PARKERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As I have already stated, prices for fat cattle add in Ireland are not controlled, owing to the fact that it has not been found possible to set up grading machinery in Irish markets Fat cattle purchased in Ireland for slaughter in Great Britain must now, however, pass through markets in this country before slaughter, and be graded and allocated to butchers at the 520 controlled prices. There is, therefore, no longer any inducement to British buyers to pay excessive prices for fat cattle in Ireland. I am aware of the effect upon, the sale of stores of the high prices recently paid in Ireland for fat cattle, but the arrangements already described in. regard to fat cattle entering Great Britain should effect a reduction in the price of stores. I may remind the hon. Baronet that the price of store cattle is not controlled, either in Ireland or in Great Britain.