§ 10. Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Food the numbers of sheep purchased by his Department in the five south-western counties each week during May, 1954.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeAs the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following are the figures.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeSo abnormally heavy were the offerings that it was necessary to restrict purchases of sheep in the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Gloucester, 1931 Somerset and Wiltshire during the week beginning 7th June. Entries of all classes of stock for subsequent weeks have been abnormally high throughout the country and purchases have had to be restricted to the capacity of the Ministry's slaughtering and distribution facilities during the short period which remains before decontrol. The restrictions are physically unavoidable and all the more so if a good start for the new Fatstock Guarantee Scheme on 1st July is to be assured.
§ Mr. HaymanWill the Minister bear in mind that 3,100 sheep were offered this week for sale at the Truro and Loswithiel markets, with a carry-over of 2,100 from last week? Will he tell us whether this is the first time this has happened during the period of the Ministry's control over purchases in England and Wales? Are not the restrictions the result of the Government's precipitate policy of decontrol?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThis has not happened before in England and Wales. Ever since control came into operation it has been the policy of the Government to refuse animals in certain circumstances. I think the hon. Member will appreciate the problem when I tell him that the offers of sheep in Cornwall in the week ending 12th June were eight or nine times greater than they were a fortnight before, and about three times as much as they were the year before.
Mr. T. WilliamsIs not that the clearest indication that the farmers prefer a price they know to a doubtful one?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThat is a matter upon which the right hon. Gentleman and I could never agree, but I am quite pre- pared to wait until after 3rd July to see what happens.
§ Mr. P. O'NeillIs the Minister aware That the savage cuts in the acceptance of fatstock by his Ministry in the last week of control are causing indignation throughout Northern Ireland?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI have not the figures for Northern Ireland by me at the moment, but I cannot accept that there have been savage cuts. As I pointed out to the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Hayman), the cause of the trouble is not the cuts but the enormous increase in cattle brought forward.
Mr. G. WilsonDoes my right hon. and gallant Friend agree that the de-rationing of meat might very well mean a large increase in the demand, in Cornwall, for home-killed meat, especially during the holiday period?
§ 13. Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Food whether sheep which are offered for sale at markets in the five south-western counties during June and are put back for sale in the following week, can be paid for on the basis prevailing in the week when they were first offered.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeNo, Sir. It has been the rule throughout control that the price paid shall be the price appropriate at the time of sale.
§ Mr. HaymanWill the Minister keep in mind that the loss to the farmers in Cornwall at these two markets this week amounts to no less than £1,000, and as this is the first time it has happened during the control of the Ministry, will he consider granting the concession that is being asked?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeNo, I am afraid I cannot depart from the practice. When the hon. Gentleman talks about the loss to the farmers in Cornwall I would remind him that the number of sheep brought forward was eight or nine times what it was the week before.
§ Mr. HaymanIn view of the unsatisfactory answer given by the Minister I give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.