§ 45. Commander Nobleasked the Minister of Food what price per pound is being paid for Argentine beef f.o.b.; the price landed in United Kingdom; the price to butcher in United Kingdom; and what grade of beef, as graded in the Argentine, do these prices cover.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Dr. Edith Summerskill)It would not be in the public interest to state the import prices of Argentine beef. The wholesale price to the butcher for whole sides of ration quality imported bone-in-beef is 8d. per lb.
§ Commander NobleIf these figures are not available, could the hon. Lady say how other countries, especially countries in the British Commonwealth, are to know what are the prices with which they are competing?
§ Dr. SummerskillI should have thought that to the simplest intelligence it would be quite clear that that is the reason why we do not reveal them.
§ Mr. J. S. C. ReidIn view of the information given by the Minister on Monday night, comparing the new prices with the old, and in view of the disclosure of certain old prices from time to time, why cannot we have this matter disclosed, instead of endeavouring to discover the answer by putting bits and pieces together?
§ Dr. SummerskillThe right hon. and learned Gentleman will remember that on Monday night my right hon. and learned 1949 Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made it quite clear that this was our policy.