§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he now realises that the fixing of prices for beef and other meat has been the means of creating a meat famine both in Great Britain and Ireland owing to the farmers having no certainty as to what prices may or may not be fixed; and will he, in the interests of the consumer, do away with maximum and minimum prices and thus afford a chance to those who are willing to fatten and rear cattle of supplying the public demand without the Orders and Regulations which have hitherto been in force?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe Food Controller cannot agree that the present meat shortage is due to the fixing of maximum prices. The main causes of this shortage, as I have already frequently pointed out, are the diminution in the quantity of imported meat available for the civilian population, and the reduction in the supplies of feeding-stuffs for cattle. Lord Rhondda has already announced that the maximum prices for meat will not be lowered during 1918. He is not prepared to adopt the course suggested by the hon. Member of abolishing maximum prices for meat altogether.