§ 41. Mr. PYBUSasked the Minister of Agriculture how many sides of Home-killed and Scotch-killed beef were offered for grading in 1930; the number of sides graded at Birkenhead and in Scotland; and what proportion of cattle graded in Scotland were in fact cattle from Ireland?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Dr. Addison)As the reply is necessarily somewhat detailed, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. PYBUSDoes the written answer contain any provision for deciding on a fourth grade in which English meat shall be marked "English meat"?
§ Following is the reply:
§ The main figures for 1930 are set out in the following table:
§ and Scotch-killed beef in 1930, showing, separately, wages and expenses of graders; cost of advertising; and salaries or wages and expenses chargeable to members of the permanent staff of the Ministry of Agriculture engaged on work in connection with marking and grading of beef?
§ Dr. ADDISONAs the reply is rather long, I propose with the hon. Member's permission to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
795§ The figure of 254,569 sides of beef quoted in the question represents the number graded and marked in 1930; the total number graded was 272,504. The salaries, wages and expenses of the grading staff and local charges amounted to £10,491; the total cost of advertising and other forms of publicity was £13,350; the estimated amount chargeable to the beef grading scheme in respect of the salaries and travelling expenses of the headquarters staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Department of Agriculture for Scotland was about £2,370. The total cost of £26,211 chargeable to public funds was, under all headings, and especially as regards publicity, substantially increased as a result of the difficulties placed in the way of the scheme in the Birmingham area by a section of the meat trade in that city.