§ 68. Mr. McEnteeasked the Minister of Food why he has decided to classify turkeys produced in Eire as foreign and to fix the price at 9d. per pound less than that paid for home grown turkeys and for those coming from Northern Ireland; whether this classification and price difference was in operation in previous years; what conversations were held with the Eireann Department of Agriculture on the matter; and whether the new prices were agreed with them.
§ 69. Sir F. Sandersonasked the Minister of Food why turkeys imported from Eire are to be classed as foreign; and, in view of the fact that it will react unfavourably on the Eireann producers as against Northern Ireland and home-produced birds, thus causing the number of turkeys available for the home market to be considerably reduced, if he will reconsider his decision.
§ Mr. StracheyIn the recent announcement turkeys from Eire were not classified as "foreign" but as "imported," a description which included turkeys from other countries in the British Commonwealth. The decision to fix the maximum price of imported birds at the lower level than those of home-produced was taken in order to give the consumer the benefit of lower prices at which they had been procured or purchased.
Before the war turkeys from Eire were frequently cheaper than British birds and the maximum price fixed for them in 1940 was lower than for home-produced turkeys. The representative of the Government of Eire was notified of the proposals before the announcement was made but after further consideration of the representations made by him I have decided to make an intermediate maximum price for turkeys from Eire which I shall be announcing shortly. The object will be to encourage maximum supplies of turkeys from Eire and adjust the price level on a basis proportionate with the prewar practice in comparison with home produced and birds imported from other countries.