§ Captain TERRELLasked the Minister of Agriculture if he can yet make any statement as to how meat from Canadian store cattle obtained after a brief period of fattening in this country will be distinguished from British bred and reared; and whether legislation will be needed, and, if so, introduced to effect such distinctive marking?
§ Sir R. SANDERSI am afraid that any attempt to secure the distinction sought by the hon. Member would be impracticable.
§ Mr. LAMBasked the Minister of Agriculture what expert advice he has sought in regard to the provisions of the Importation of Animals Bill relating to the prevention of the importation of disease; and whether he can give the House any assurance that the consensus of expert opinion regards these provisions as wholly adequate?
§ Sir R. SANDERSIt would be contrary to accepted constitutional practice to place responsibility for proposals made by the Government on experts who may have been consulted by Ministers, and consequently I am not prepared to give the information for which my hon. Friend asks. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.
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§ Captain TERRELLasked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the permitted wholesale importation of live Canadian cattle, what action the Government proposes to take to ensure that retail meat traders, who urged this policy on the ground that it would reduce the price of meat by at least 6d. per lb., carry out this undertaking and pass on the benefit to the public?
§ Sir R. SANDERSThe Government obviously cannot accept, any responsibility for the promises referred to, and, as my hon. Friend will remember, the Royal Commission reported that they were quite unable to accept the view that the price of beef would be reduced by 6d. per lb. if Canadian stores were admitted.