§ 27. Mr. HANNONasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now in a position to make a statement on the progress of the National Mark Scheme for the grading and marking of beef at Birmingham.?
§ Dr. ADDISONNot will standing the opposition to the National Mark Beef Scheme which still exists among certain sections of the trade in Birmingham, the number of sides graded and marked has mounted rapidly during the last 10 weeks and the ground lost when local difficulties first arose has been more than recovered. This reflects a growing and insistent public demand for National Mark beef, and I am hopeful that the wholesale salesmen will recognise that it justifies a reconsideration of their attitude, which causes extra expense and serious inconvenience to many retail butchers in the city, as well as adding to the cost of the scheme to public funds.
§ Mr. HANNONDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to extend this scheme to any other centres in Great Britain?
§ Dr. ADDISONYes, we are now considering extending it to another city.
§ Mr. ROSBOTHAMCan the right hon. Gentleman say to what he attributes the increase, and whether the scheme is still opposed by the trade in Birmingham?
§ Dr. ADDISONIt is now opposed by only a section. The success is undoubtedly due to the public appreciation of the beef that is marked.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEDoes the opposition include opposition from the War Office to the National Mark Scheme?
§ Dr. ADDISONNo.
§ 35. Mr. W. B. TAYLORasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has evidence of a demand among farmers for National Mark all-English wheat flour; and what action, if any, he is taking to encourage and stimulate the demand?
§ Dr. ADDISONMy Department has had the assistance of the National Farmers' Union in commending the National Mark All-English Flour Scheme to the notice of farmers and of agricultural consumers generally. Reports from millers in most agricultural areas indicate, however, that the demand for National Mark flour has been disappointing, even in those areas where the wheat is grown, although many country millers have made energetic efforts to promote sales. In the circumstances, I am arranging, by means of further publicity, particularly in the East of England, to bring prominently before the agricultural community the opportunity which the National Mark Wheat Flour Scheme provides for giving effective preference in their own households to home agricultural produce.