3. Mr. L'ESTRAMGE MALONEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to recent statements in the Press regarding the activities of the American and other meat firms that control the supply of meat from the Argentine to Smithfield Market; whether, in view of the importance to the public, he will cause an inquiry to be held, open to the public, to investigate the doings of the big American meat firms in this country, and also the position of the meat markets in London; and whether he will consider the advisability of following the example of the self-governing Dominions and other countries, and taking such action as the Committee of Inquiry may recommend?
§ Mr. BALDWINWith regard to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 10th April to a similar question by the hon. Member for Central Southwark. In view of the Report in 1920 of the Sub-Committee appointed by the Standing Committee on Trusts, I do not consider that it is necessary to incur the expense of another investigation at the present moment. The third part of the question, consequently, does not arise.