§ Colonel W. THORNEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he will state the price for the last week in January on Smithfield Market if Argentine chilled hind-quarters of beef, Argentine chilled fore-quarters of beef, New Zealand, Australian, River Plate, United States, and Canadian hind-quarters, fore-quarters, and top-pieces of beef, what were the corresponding prices for the week ending 28th April at which London butchers were supplied; and what was the total weight of imported meat so London butchers were supplied, and what were the prices at which New Zealand and Australian sheep and lambs were released to London butchers during the month of November last, the corresponding prices for April this year, and the total number of sheep and lambs released in April this year?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe total number of sheep and lambs released by the Government during four weeks in April this year was 213,019 car cases. The answer to the other parts of the question consists so largely of figures that I am causing it to be printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
The following is the answer referred to:
The prices of all kinds of frozen beef on Smithfield Market during the last week in January and the week ending 28th April, respectively, were:
January April. Frozen hind-quarters … 7s. 8d … 9s. 3d. Frozen fore-quarters … 6s. 4d … 7s. 1d. Frozen top-pieces … 7s. 0d … 8s, 8d. There was no chilled beef on sale at Smithfield during either of the weeks mentioned. The total weight of imported meat pitched at Smithfield during the former week was 1,945 tons and during the latter week 2,623 tons In November last no New Zealand or Australian sheep were on sale at Smithfield, but the price 984W for lamb was 7s. per stone. The corresponding price in April, 1918, was 8s. 8d. per stone for both sheep and lambs.
§ Colonel THORNEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food who was the person responsible for drawing up the list of meat offal prices published in the "National Food Journal" for 13th March; and whether he is aware that, while stereotyping the highest market prices for home-killed offal, the price of imported offal has been fixed at a figure higher than ever realised in a competitive uncontrolled market, and that the effect of his control is to considerably reduce the price at which Kensington and Park Lane are supplied, while increasing the price in working-class areas?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe maximum wholesale and retail prices for meat of fals were prescribed by the Food Controller after consultation with representatives of the wholesale and retail offal trades, and were approved by the Central Advisory Committee on Live Stock and Meat Supplies. It is not the case that the prices for imported offal are higher than those ever realised when the market was uncontrolled. I do not see any ground for the suggestion contained in the last part of the question.
§ Colonel THORNEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, before the War, statistics show that 60 per cent. of our meat consumption was home-produced and 40 per cent. imported; whether, between the outbreak of war and the compilation of the agricultural statistics of 1916, cattle in the United Kingdom greatly increased, and reached on that date a figure for England and Wales alone of 376,000 above the average of the previous ten years; whether sheep in the United Kingdom increased 600,000 in the same period; whether, despite increased slaughterings in the last four months of 1917 compared with 1916, the total cattle and sheep in January, 1918, was in excess of August, 1914, and more still in excess of the average of the ten years previously; whether, as 5,000,000 meat eaters are in the Army and a very considerable tonnage of imported meat and bacon are still supplied to the civilian population, he has fixed meat consumption at an unnecessarily low figure for the public; and if he will consider the possibility of at least a 33 per cent. increase?
985W
§ Mr. CLYNESThe figures quoted in the first half of the question are substantially correct, subject to the qualification that no comparison can usefully be made between winter and summer months. It may, moreover, be noted that the reduction in the weight of cattle and sheep renders mere numerical comparison illusory. The recent action of my Department shows that the rationed quantities will be increased whenever this can safely be done.