Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many murders or attempted murders have been carried out in Ireland since the 1st of January, 1919, on police, soldiers, and others in Government employment; in connection with how many of these cases have Prosecutions taken place; and how many convictions have been obtained?
§ Mr. HENRYThe following statement gives the information asked for up to the morning of the 27th April, 1920:—
§ Mr. RATCLIFFEasked the Minister of Health whether, seeing he is to bring in a Pure Milk Bill with the object of licensing all producers to carry the same principle of licensing into effect in the meat trade, so that all importers, wholesalers, and distributors of meat should be licensed and registered, seeing that unsound meat is as harmful as impure milk and quite as capable of carrying disease to human beings?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe measures necessary to secure adequate and uniform inspection of meat and an improvement in methods of handling and distribution are at present under consideration.
§ Mr. HANCOCKasked the Minister of Food the quantities of imported beef and mutton for the quarters ending March, June, September, and December, 1919, and March, 1920; and what quantities were in stock at those times?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe quantities of beef and mutton imported during the quarters referred to were as follow:—
1263W
Quarter ended. Beef. Mutton. 31st March, 1919 87,339 27,161 30th June, 1919 77,272 53,220 30th Sept., 1919 84,922 63,188 31st Dec, 1919 81,348 60,179 TOTAL 330,881 203,748 31st March, 1920 97,749 97,247 The following were the stocks at the same dates:—
Quarter ended Beef. Mutton. 31st March, 1919 45,800 15,400 30th June, 1919 19,700 29,800 30th Sept., 1919 25,700 40,400 31st Dec, 1919 43,500 68,400 31st March, 1920 27,700 96,300
§ Mr. HANCOCKasked the Minister of Food whether, seeing that the quantity of beef imported for the March quarter, 1920, was greatly in excess of that for the corresponding quarter of the previous year, although the value had fallen enormously, he can say whether there has been a corresponding reduction in the price to the consumer; and, if not, why this has not taken place?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe quantity of beef imported during the quater which ended on the 31st March, 1920, was 97,749 tons, as compared with 87,339 tons in the corresponding quater of the previous year. In view of the fluctuations in arrivals which are bound to occur from time to time, the excess cannot be regarded as very considerable. I am not clear as to the value to which the hon. Member refers since according to the standard of world values for meat, there would appear to be no justification for the statement made in the question. There has, however, been a decided reduction in the price charged to the consumer in this country. Between March, 1919, and March, 1920, the wholesale price of imported beef was reduced from 1s. 1½d. to 10d. per lb., and there was a corresponding reduction in the retail prices payable by the consumer.