HC Deb 25 January 1973 vol 849 cc635-6
26. Mr. Ewing

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the action taken by Her Majesty's Government on the question of meat prices.

The Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mrs. Peggy Fenner)

While I am concerned at the increases in meat prices since the prices standstill, I do not consider that there are further practical steps which the Government could take to limit the effects of a world meat shortage, but we are keeping in close and regular touch with all sections of the trade to ensure that price increases are kept to a minimum.

Mr. Ewing

Is the hon. Lady aware that people all over the world are today celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet, who must have foreseen the advent of this Conservative Government when he said: Some hae meat, and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it". Is she further aware that the number of people who have no meat has increased rapidly because of her Government's policy? What does the hon. Lady propose to do about the situation? Is she further aware that the Minister's statement yesterday gave no reassurance for the future?

Mrs. Fenner

I share the hon. Gentleman's delight at the celebration of the birth of the great Scottish bard, but we are living in a time of world beef shortage and the Government have done everything possible to encourage expansion of home production. We feel that in the medium and long term this is the best answer for housewives.

Mrs. Knight

Is my hon. Friend aware that the conclusion of the quotation given by the hon. Member is But we hae meat and we can eat, And sae the Lord be thankit"? If the hon. Gentleman were a housewife shopping for beef in supermarkets last week, he would have found himself well able to buy beef, even if his salary was far lower than it is. Beef prices certainly have fallen.

Mrs. Fenner

I agree.

Mr. Peart

Will the hon. Lady convey to the Minister of Agriculture that we expect him to make a public apology for misleading people at the last election in his promise to reduce and control prices? Will he now admit that he was wrong?

Mr. Jay

Why did the Minister of Agriculture agree on Tuesday night in Brussels to a further steep rise in the price of bacon, and why did he not have the courage to come to this House to make a statement on this subject?

Mrs. Fenner

What the right hon. Gentleman says is inaccurate. There was not a steep rise. The work done by my right hon. Friend the Minister over the last two evenings in discussions in the EEC has resulted in the bacon stabiliser remaining until July.

Rear-Admiral Morgan Giles

Would my hon. and fair Friend agree that the price of beef is difficult enough without the Opposition adding to it a further element of hysteria?

Mrs. Fenner

Yes.

Mr. Buchan

Does the hon. Lady agree that because of prices the consumption of beef, veal, pork and mutton in this country is now less than it was in the last calendar year of post-war rationing?

Mrs. Fenner

Certainly beef eating has gone down slightly compared with the period mentioned by the hon. Gentleman, but it has been balanced by increases in the consumption of other forms of meat.