§ Mr. W. TAYLORasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is in a position to make a statement with regard to the working of the National Mark Beef Scheme in Birmingham?
§ Dr. ADDISONA careful examination of the working of the National Mark Beef Scheme in Birmingham has shown me that:
1. During the period from the commencement of the scheme in November, 1929, to the end of May last, the wholesale meat salesmen in Birmingham generally afforded the Ministry much assistance in developing the trade in National Mark beef; the wholesalers, in fact, adopted an attitude towards the scheme which was distinctly helpful. This, I am very glad to acknowledge.
2. If, during this period, progress was comparatively slow, the reason was certainly not any want of good will on the part of the wholesalers, but was probably due to the inability of the Ministry to give the National Mark Beef Scheme in Birmingham the same wide and intensive publicity that it was able to devote to the London area, where the scheme has been an undoubted success.
3. The wholesalers' decision at the end of May appears to have been reached in the genuine belief that, at the expiration of six months, they were justified in withdrawing their co-operation without 732W further consultation. In coming to their decision, they assured my predecessor that the scheme had no possible disadvantages or advantages to themselves, and that consequently their decisions were based purely upon their own conceptions of the public interest. As the wholesalers were an important factor in the creation of the trade for National Mark beef, so the withdrawal of their co-operation has naturally resulted in decreased supplies of this beef being available in the Birmingham area.
4. It has since been made possible for the retail butchers in Birmingham to get their beef marked and a steady trade has been carried out under the special arrangements now in force. So far as I am aware, nothing has been done by wholesale salesmen on the market to interfere, in any way, with the freedom of retail butchers to have beef marked under the new arrangements.
5. What is wanted now is the resumption of active co-operation by the wholesale trade—in other words, the resumption of grading and marking on the wholesalers' own stalls. This would be most welcome and public-spirited gesture which would be very greatly appreciated by all parties in this House as being in the national interest. Combined with the extensive publicity which the Ministry is now able to undertake, it would, I feel sure, have a. striking effect on the future progress of the scheme in Birmingham by enabling its administration to proceed not only with economy but with a maximum of good will, both within the trade and on the part of the public at large.