§ 50. Viscount WOLMERasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he pro poses to take in view of the boycott of meat bearing the national mark by the retail trade; and whether he proposes to submit legislative proposals on the subject to Parliament?
§ Mr. N. BUXTONAs measured by the demand for graded and marked beef it would appear that the boycott is failing. I am watching the situation closely, but I am not in a position to make any further statement at the moment.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the boycott by the Admiralty and the War Office also failing? Can the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance on that?
§ 53. Mr. CHATERasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of sides of beef graded under the national marking 1515 scheme for the month of October; and the quantities from the various markets and abattoirs?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe number of sides of beef graded under the Beef Marking Scheme from the 4th October, when the scheme commenced, to the 31st October last, inclusive, was 7,527. Of these, 4,305 were graded at Islington Abattoir, 180 at Central Markets, Smithfield, 1,542 at private slaughter-houses in the London area, and 1,500 at Birkenhead.