§ Mr. Kitsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the quantity of bull beef imported into this country from Yugoslavia in the last three months; and what was the average price per cwt.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsSeparate figures are not available for imports or prices of bull beef, but I understand that something like half the beef imported from Yugoslavia may be bull beef. In the three months November, 1962, to January, 1963, imports of Yugoslav beef amounted to 9,500 tons of which more than 90 per cent. was chilled beef with an average c.i.f. price of £9 9s. 0d. per cwt.
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§ Mr. Kitsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the lower prices British farmers are receiving for beef are being reflected in consumer prices; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsNo official figures of retail prices are available; but such information as I have suggests that retail beef prices have fallen in many shops since the beginning of the year, although the extent of the fall varies according to the type of shop and the different qualities and cuts of beef.
§ Mr. Kitsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present rate of beef subsidy.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsThe provisional rates of subsidy for fat cattle for the week commencing 11th March are 53s. per live cwt. for Grade I and 48s. for Grade II.
§ Mr. Kitsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost of the beef subsidy over the last two months; and how this compares with June and July, 1961.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsGuarantee payments on fat cattle during January and February this year have amounted to £4,828,169: in June and July, 1961, they amounted to £10,944,452.
§ Mr. Kitsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what consultations he has had with the Argentinian and Yugoslavian Governments with a view to reducing United Kingdom imports of beef;
(2) what steps he proposes to take to limit imports of Argentinian beef, in view of the low prices ruling in the home market.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsMy right hon. Friend has drawn the attention of the Argentine and Yugoslav Governments to the current level of prices and has asked them to have special regard to the state of the market in planning their exports to us.