MEAT IMPORTS (COMMITTEE). (Hansard, 12 December 1932)

HC Deb 12 December 1932 vol 273 cc17-9 17

§ 50. Mr. T. WILLIAMS
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state what was the price of meat in Buenos Aires on the date when the agreement was reached to restrict imports into this country and the price for the latest date for which figures are available?

§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Dr. Burgin)
I assume that the question relates to livestock prices. In the time available I have not been able to obtain full particulars, but the Commercial Counsellor at Buenos Aires has reported that on the 7th November, according to the published statement of the Argentine Ministry of Agriculture, the price of good quality chilling steers at the ranch was 21 to 24 cents per kilo. live weight, and that. on the 9th December the corresponding price was 22 to 25 cents.

§ 51. Mr. RHYS DAVIES
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the expert committee to watch meat prices, under the chairmanship of Lord Linlithgow, has yet been appointed; and, if so, will he give the names of the members of the committee, the organisations they represent, and the terms of reference?

§ Dr. BURGIN
This committee held its first meeting last Wednesday. With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the members and the organisations they represent. A formal minute of appointment has not yet been signed, as the last nomination has only just been received. 18 The committee will be appointed jointly by the President of the Board of Trade, the Minister of Agriculture, and the Secretary of State for Scotland. The terms of reference will be To be a Committee to watch', and advise the Government upon; the operation of the emergency scheme for the voluntary restriction of imports of meat (including bacon and hams) into this country,",

§ Mr. T. WILLIAMS
Will this committee also watch the prices that are paid on the ranches in the Argentine and elsewhere, and the prices that are paid at other markets comparable with Smithfield?

§ Dr. BURGIN
This committee has certainly, been appointed primarily in the interests of this country.

§ Mr. WILLIAMS
Was it not the Government's intention to increase the price to the producer, and would not that affect the buyer in this country?

§ Mr. DAVIES
How many'niembers constitute this committee?

§ Dr. BURGIN
The answer will be in the material that is to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I cannot answer from memory. I had the pleasure of welcoming members of the committee myself, and they seemed a very large number.

§ Mr. MORGAN JONES
Did the hon. Gentleman say that the first meeting had already been held, before all the members had been appointed?

§ Dr. BURGIN
The first meeting has been held and Lord Linlithgow presided. What has not yet occurred is the signing of the formal minute of appointment. That is entirely ministerial, and is about to take place.

§ Sir JOHN HASLAM
Will the Minister see that someone with practical experience of the retail business in bacon and hams and meat is represented on the committee to give expert advice to members of the committee?

§ Dr. BURGIN
My hon. Friend will see that that has been provided. for.

§ Mr. BUCHANAN
; Why, after all the experience of committees, do the Government not now stop wasting public money on further committees? Will the hon. Gentleman state that this committee will not just waste public money as all other committees have done?.

§ Dr. BURGIN
Among those who were most prominent in asking for this committee were the members of the co-operative movement. The committee is set up entirely to safeguard the interests of the public, and will, I have no doubt, perform a most useful function.

§ Mr. BUCHANAN
If the committee have really no power what good are they going to do? There has been a whole legion of abortive committees set up, and they are only wasting public money and doing nothing at all.

§ Following is the list of the Committee:

The Marquess of Linlithgow, K.T., G.C.I.E., O.B.E. (Chairman).
Sir Geoffrey Corbett, K.B.E., C.I.E. Hon. A. Borthwick, Mr. R. Perryman—Australian and New Zealand Agents' Association.
Mr. H. Jones, Mr. W. E. Blackburn—South American Meat Importers' Freight Committee.
Mr. A. I. Eastwood—Home-killed Meat Association.
Mr. G. D. Pool—Smithfield and Aldgate Carcase Butchers' Association.
Mr. J. B. Swain—Imported Meat Trade Association.
Mr. T. Webster, Mr. T. Keighley, Mr. J. Edwards—National Federation of Meat Traders' Associations.
Mr. W. Clark—Scottish Federation of Meat Traders' Associations.
Mr. A. E. Marsh—Food Manufacturers' Federation.
Mr. F. E. Keevil, Mr. E. R. Tidmarsh, C.B.E.—London Provision Exchange, Limited.
Mr. A. Greig—United Kingdom Association of Multiple Shop Proprietors. Mr. W. Miln—Incorporated Association of Retail Distributors.
Mr. S. G. Shaw—Federation of Grocers' Associations of the United Kingdom. Mr. J. A. S. MacLean—Scottish Provision Trade Association.
Mr. W. Pennycook—Scottish Federation of Grocers' and Provision Merchants' Associations.
Mr. G. A. Ramsay (Co-operative Wholesale Society), Mr. M. McCallum (Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society), Mr. E. Church (South Suburban Co-operative Society)—Parliamentary Committee of the Cooperative Congress.