§ 26. Commander Donaldsonasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that retail butchers are being subjected to increasing inconvenience by late deliveries of carcass meat; and if he will take steps to ensure that carcass meat is delivered the day before sale to the public, especially at week-ends and local half-closing days.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI am not aware of any general complaint by butchers about late deliveries of meat, and we do try to make deliveries on Thursdays for the week-end trade. If my hon. and gallant Friend will send me details of any cases which have come to his notice I will gladly investigate them.
§ 36. Mr. W. T. Williamsasked the Minister of Food in view of the fact that large supplies of frozen meat are to be shipped in the next few months from Eire to the United States of America and in view of the failure of the Argentine Government to reach its contract figure for meat to the United Kingdom, what action is being taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure that all available supplies of meat from sources such as Eire are made available for this country.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeArgentina is fulfilling its contractual obligations this year. Under the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement, 1948, which entitles us to 90 per cent. of all live cattle exported, we buy at prices closely linked to those paid 23 to farmers in the United Kingdom. Since the Agreement was made imports of cattle and beef have increased over sevenfold.