§ Mr. Boothbyasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether it is still 1256W the intention of His Majesty's Government to encourage the production of good quality beef; whether he is aware that the present system of price control for fat stock operates unfairly against the producer of such beef by depriving him of at least £2 per head for the cattle he is able to offer, and greatly increases the profits of the wholesale butcher; and whether, pending the introduction of full control on a deadweight graded basis, he will consider raising the maximum wholesale price per live cwt. to a figure which will enable the producer of good quality beef at least to cover his costs of production?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonAs regards the first and second parts of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to similar questions asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, Central (Sir R. W. Smith) on 2nd November. As regards the third part of the question, in the joint announcement which was made by the Agricultural Departments and the Ministry of Food on nth November to the effect that as from an early date all home-bred fat stock offered for sale for slaughter will be purchased by the Ministry of Food at prescribed prices, it was stated that consideration is being given as to how far it may be possible to deal with the special case of quality cattle which kill out at a high percentage.