§ Sir P. HURDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will indicate the range of prices of fat stock in the last three years; and whether, in order to ensure a fair market for British producers, arrangements will be made to limit imports at a time when home supplies of fat cattle are at their heaviest?
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§ Mr. W. S. MORRISONThe following table shows prices of fat cattle in the last three years. As regards the second part of the question, my hon. Friend will be aware that imports of foreign beef and veal have for some time been subject to quantitative regulation, and that arrangements with the same object in view have been made with the Dominions concerned. Imports of live cattle from the Irish Free State are also regulated. The general effect of the arrangements is to reduce the proportion of annual imports arriving in the first and last quarters of the year, when home supplies of fat cattle are greatest.
Monthly Average Prices of Fat Cattle from January, 1934, to date. (From quotations in Agricultural Market Report.) Fat Cattle 1st Quality Shorthorns. Month. Per live cwt. 1934: s. d. January 40 11 February 40 6 March 39 6 April 39 2 May 39 9 June 39 10 July 39 7 August 40 7 September 39 1 October 37 0 November 36 7 December 37 6 1935: January 36 11 February 35 8 March 35 3 April 35 10 May 37 2 June 37 10 July 37 1 August 35 2 September 35 4 October 34 8 November 34 9 December 37 3 1936: January 37 3 February 37 3 March 36 11 April 37 10 May 38 9 June 40 4 July 39 8 August 38 4 September 36 8 October 35 6