§ 36. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give the official prices for Scotch short sides, English long sides, Argentine chilled hind and fore quarters of beef, Scotch mutton, New Zealand lamb, the two grades of veal, and the two grades of pork for the first Thursday of the week in 1924 in which the Royal Commission on Food Prices commenced their public sittings and for the first Thursday in July, 1925, and for the first Thursday of July, 1926, respectively; and if he will show the percentage increase or decrease as between the period at which it was felt necessary to hold a public investigation into alleged profiteering in the meat trade and those ruling at the last of these dates?
Mr. GUINNESSWith the hon. Members' permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the required particulars.
§ The following statement gives the official prices in London on the dates mentioned
| — | Thursday, December 11th, 1924. | Mean. | Thursday, July 2nd, 1925. | Mean. | Thursday, July 1st, 1926. | Mean. | Percentage Increase or Decrease at 1st July, 1926, December compared with 11th, 1924. | ||||||||||||
| Beef — | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | Per cent. |
| Scotch Short Sides. | 8 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 10 | — 6.0 |
| English Long Sides. | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 11 | —2.7 |
| Argentine H.Q. chilled. | 4 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | +15.1 |
| Argentine F.Q. chilled. | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | —12.5 |
| Mutton— | |||||||||||||||||||
| Scotch mutton | 9 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 2 | —12.5 |
| Lamb— | |||||||||||||||||||
| New Zealand | 8 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 8 | —23.1 |
| Veal— | |||||||||||||||||||
| English, 1st grade | 6 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | +6.2 |
| Eng. best. | Eng. fat. | ||||||||||||||||||
| English, 2nd grade and 3rd grades. | 4 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 4 | +22.6 |
| Pork— | Eng. bobbies. | Eng. bobbies. | |||||||||||||||||
| English best (under 10 st.). | 7 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 3 | +29.1 |
| English best (10 to 15 st.). | 6 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 8 | +26.8 |
| English best (15 to 20 st.). | 6 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 2 | +28.9 |