§ 31. Mr. LAMBasked the Minister of Agriculture how long the Importation of Carcases (Prohibition) Order is likely to remain in force?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)Foot-and-mouth disease has been very prevalent on the Continent for some years, and, so far as can be seen at present, there is little prospect of any diminution in the widespread distribution of the disease. So long as these conditions obtain in European countries I am advised that it would not be safe to make any substantial modification of the Order. I am only prepared to consider modifications of a quite minor character, such as the arrangement for allowing the importation of cow and goat hair bristles, etc., by licence, subject to certain conditions 360 which I announced on the 14th instant in reply to a question put to me by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Enfield (Colonel Applin).
32. Lieut.-Colonel WATTS-MORGAN (for Mr. W. THORNE)asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that 66 per cent. of the total quantity of pork delivered at Smithfield Market for the first five months of the current year arrived from the Netherlands, also over 50 per cent. of the veal and a considerable quantity of mutton; that the imports of young Dutch tegs, which became an important factor on the London market in the months from October to January, last winter arrived in such quantity as to break the hold-up of New Zealand mutton and lamb organised by the New Zealand exporters; whether, before making au Order to exclude this large quantity of meat, inquiries were made as to the effect on prices of other commodities, such as English and South American beef, etc., likely to arise through the disappearance of the Netherlands supplies; what were the official prices issued by the Smithfield Market authorities for the last Thursday or Friday before any announcement of the embargo was made public and those prevailing for Thursday, 17th June, for Scotch short sides of beef, English long sides of beef, Argentine chilled hinds of beef, Argentine chilled fores of beef, Scotch sheep, New Zealand lambs, English veal, fat, English bobby calves, English pigs under 10 stone weight, English pigs 10 to 15 stone weight; and if he will state the percentage of increase or decrease in each case?
§ Mr. GUINNESSAs the length of the reply is proportionate to the length of the hon. Member's question. I propose, with his permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ I am aware that about 66 per cent. of the pork and about 50 per cent. of the veal entering Smithfield Market during the first five months of the current year came from the Netherlands. The amount of mutton, however, from that source during the same period was inconsiderable, forming less than 3 per cent. of the total supply of mutton at Smithfield. I have no information in regard to any hold-up of New Zealand mutton and lamb last winter, as is suggested, but in any case the mutton and 361 lamb from the Netherlands on the London market during the period October, 1925, to January, 1926, only amounted to 6 per cent. of the total supply, whereas in the same months of 1924£1925 the corresponding figure was 11 per cent. Before making the Order
| SMITHFIELD MARKET. | ||||||||
| — | Thursday 27th May, 1926. | Thursday, 17th June, 1926. | Increase or decrease per cent., + or -. | |||||
| Per 8 lb. Stone. | ||||||||
| Beef— | … | … | … | s. | d. | s. | d. | |
| Scotch short sides | … | … | … | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | +17.9 |
| English long sides | … | … | … | 5 | 6 | 6 | 1 | +10.6 |
| Argentine chilled hindquarters | … | … | … | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | +34.0 |
| Argentine chilled forequarters | … | … | … | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | +61.5 |
| Mutton—Scotch | … | … | … | 8 | 2 | 8 | 2 | — |
| Lamb—New Zeland | … | … | … | 6 | 10 | 6 | 9 | -1.2 |
| Veal— | … | … | … | |||||
| English, fat | … | … | … | 6 | 4 | 8 | 2 | +28.9 |
| English bobbies | … | … | … | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | +46.2 |
| Pork— | ||||||||
| English (under 10 stone) | … | … | … | 6 | 8 | 9 | 0 | +35.0 |
| English (10–15 stone) | … | … | … | 5 | 10 | 8 | 6 | +45.7 |
§ I would, however, point out that the daily prices at Smithfield are liable to fluctuate considerably, and that the large increases shown in the above table for beef and for pork are not indicative of the real changes in price which have taken place since the issue of the Prohibition Order. The first date chosen by the hon. Member happens to have been one on which prices were exceptionally low, and a comparison of the weekly averages before and after the Order was imposed would disclose smaller differences.
§ 38. Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade, seeing that the official list of prices prevailing at Smithfield Market on Thursday and Friday last shows that the exclusion of supplies from the Netherlands has brought the market practically under the control of the firms exporting meat from South America, and that prices for South American chilled beef rose to a figure greater than the controlled maximum prices imposed under the Emergency Regulations during the general strike, and that a continuance of this state of affairs must lead to a definite rise in the cost-of-living index figure, whether he will request the Food Council to forthwith hold a public inquiry into meat
§ prohibiting the importation of carcases from the Continent I considered very carefully its possible effect on prices generally.
§ The following table contains the information asked for in the last part of the question:
§ prices, and take evidence from meat traders', butchers' and consumers' organisations as to the probable effect of the Continental meat embargo upon meat prices to the consumers in the Metropolitan area?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Burton Chadwick)The documents to which the hon. Member refers show that the total meat supplies entering Smithfield Market last week were 812 tons in excess of supplies in the same week of last year, and that for the preceding week they were 1,290 tons in excess of supplies for the same week of last year. If in fact the prohibition of importation of certain meats from the Continent has had any effect on prices, that effect will probably be temporary pending the arrival of additional supplies from overseas and the appearance of home supplies. As I informed the hon. Member on 9th June, the effect of the prohibition is being carefully watched, and if it appears necessary the question will be referred to the Food Council.
§ Mr. MACKINDERIf the effect of this Order has been to increase the cost of essential food, cannot the Minister take some action in the matter?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKIt is receiving the consideration of the Food Council, but I do not think it is admitted that it has been a direct cause of increase in the price.