HC Deb 23 June 1948 vol 452 cc1353-5
52. Major Legge - Bourke

asked the Minister of Food why he rejected a recent offer of canned beef from Eire, which was later sold elsewhere at a higher price; and why he then asked the Eire Government for a supply of canned horse-meat.

59. Captain John Crowder

asked the Minister of Food why he refused to buy canned beef from Eire when he was offered it last March; and why he then asked for an unlimited supply of canned horse-meat.

Mr. Strachey

I would refer the hon. and gallant Members to the answers given to the Questions by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Sir J. Lucas) on 21st June. We have made no request to the Eire Government for canned horsemeat.

Major Legge-Bourke

Arising out of the two replies to which the Minister referred, will he say, first, why the imported beef from Eire was unsuitable for putting on the ration or for manufacturing sausage meat? Will he further give an assurance that no horsemeat is being imported from anywhere, Eire included?

Mr. Strachey

The answer to the first part of the supplementary question is that it was canned or tinned meat, and therefore could not be suitable for sausages or for the ration. In answer to the second part of the question, what happened was that we were approached by an Eire firm whether we would be interested in the import of horsemeat. We referred the matter to the Eire Government and were told that they were not licensing this export. I can give an assurance that there is no import of horsemeat from any other country either.

Colonel Gomme - Duncan

Does the Minister's answer mean that canned meat, including bully-beef, will never be on the ration again?

Mr. Strachey

No, that is on the ration. This was Irish tinned meat which would have been put on points. We prefer to have Irish meat in the form of carcass meat, if that is possible.

Mr. J. S. C. Reid

In view of the fact that we are taking 10,000 tons of tinned Irish meat under the new Eire Agreement, and that only 10,000 tons was previously offered according to the hon. Lady's answer, why did we refuse part of that 10,000 tons, seeing that it went to Czechoslovakia?

Mr. Strachey

The issue was one of price, which I should have thought was understandable. Under the new agreement we have been able, I am very glad to say, to come to terms with the Eire Government on this and several other matters.

Mr. Reid

Does the Minister mean that the price asked for the consignment in March by the Eire Government was excessive?

Mr. Strachey

Two parties to a deal may each have a perfectly legitimate view on the subject of price and those views may differ.

Mr. Reid

What was the price?

Mr. Turton

Will the Minister explain for what purpose he referred the question of the importation of canned horsemeat to the Irish Government?

Mr. Strachey

We received this inquiry from an Irish firm and we wished to have the views of the Irish Government on the subject.

Major Legge-Bourke

Arising out of the last answer which the Minister gave to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Hillhead (Mr. J. S. C. Reid), may I ask the Minister whether he realises that Mr. Dillon himself, on the Thursday before he came over to this country for the recent Trade Agreement, said that the price originally quoted for the tinned beef offered by Eire to this country was lower than that at which he eventually sold it? Why did the Minister turn it down?

Mr. Strachey

That is quite possible. The price that is being given on the Continent today for a good many Eire products is higher than the price we can bid. It is to meet that situation that the recent Agreement has been made.

Mr. Reid

Does that mean that we are less well off now than Czechoslovakia, and is that the result of Socialist policy?

Mr. Strachey

If that were so, it would be the result of Socialism in both places.