§ 13. Captain ELLISTONasked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent there has been, since the institution of the meat quota, an increase in the pro portion of meat imported with the bones and other tissue of little value removed: whether the increase in the importation of boneless meat and pieces or cuts of meat prevents the quota scheme from having its full effect in benefiting the home producer of meat; and whether he will take steps to prohibit the importation of carcase meat from which the bones have been removed, or which has been cut into pieces less than the whole carcase, in the case of mutton, lamb, veal and pork, or less than a fore or hind quarter in the case of beef?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Elliot)Under the Ottawa Agreements imports of chilled beef, frozen beef (carcases and boned beef taken together) and frozen mutton and lamb from foreign countries are subject to quantitative regulation. It is only in the case of frozen beef that the importation of boneless meat is of importance. In the Ottawa standard year, approximately 8½ per cent. of imports of frozen beef from foreign sources was in the form of boned beef. In the year 1933, this pro portion rose to approximately 19½ per cent. As I indicated in my statement on the livestock situation on 20th December last, negotiations were opened with a view to reducing the quantities of boned beef imported from foreign countries. The importers subsequently agreed to take steps to ensure that the proportion of boned beef imported does not exceed that which obtained in the Ottawa year, and in the first five months of this year there has in fact been a substantial reduction in the proportion of boned beef imported from foreign countries. With regard to the last part of the question, the Market Supply Committee are at present examining the situation generally.
§ 27. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the 1931 imports of beef, mutton, lamb, and bacon from foreign countries are permitted under voluntary agreements during 1934; the estimated decrease in weight for all kinds of meat for the latter period; and the price per cwt. during each of the two periods?
§ Dr. BURGINAs the answer is a rather long one, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The regulation of imports from foreign countries of the descriptions of meat -to which the hon. Member refers is statutory, except in so far as voluntary reductions have been arranged in imports of chilled beef. The latter reductions have been arranged from quarter to quarter, and it is not at present possible to give a figure relating to chilled beef for the whole of this year. As regards frozen beef it has not been possible in the time available to give comparable figures for 1931 and 1934.
1550§ Assuming that the present rate of reduction in imports of frozen mutton and lamb from foreign countries is maintained such imports in 1934 will amount to about 61 per cent. of the quantity imported in 1931. It is estimated that the total importation from foreign countries of bacon as defined in the Bacon (Import Regulation) Order, 1934, will amount in 1934 to approximately 56 per cent. of the imports in 1931.
§ The estimated decrease in the weighs of imports of foreign frozen mutton and lamb is approximately 816,000 cwts. and the corresponding figure for bacon is 5,085,000 cwts.
§ The following table gives average wholesale prices for the first five months of 1931 and 1934:
| — | 1931. | 1934. | ||
| Pence per lb. | Pence per lb. | |||
| Chilled Beef (Argentine, first quality; mean of forequarters and hindquarters). | 4⅞ | 4¾ | ||
| Frozen Mutton (Argentine, first quality). | 4⅜ | 5¼ | ||
| Frozen Lamb (Argentine, first quality). | 5⅞ | 6¾ | ||
| per cwt. | per cwt. | |||
| s. | d. | s. | d. | |
| Bacon (Danish Green Sides, first quality). | 70 | 6 | 91 | 6 |