§ 53. Sir A. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the latest estimate of forthcoming supplies, home-produced and imported, of beef, lamb and pork for the United Kingdom market in the current three-month period April to June compared with a year ago, and the averages for the past five years.
§ Mr. SoamesForecasts covering April to June, 1964, indicate that total supplies of beef and veal are likely to be somewhat less than in the same period of 1963, but well above the average of the last 5 years: both lamb and pork supplies should be above those for April-June last year and also above the 5 year average. Taking all carcase meat together, I estimate that home production and imports in the current quarter will not differ greatly from their respective levels in the second quarter of 1963. Imports should accordingly be fairly120W near the 5 year average and home production well above that average.
Supplies of meat in the second quarter of 1963, compared with a 5 year average for the same period, were as follows:
'000 tons — April-June, 1963 April-June, 1959/63 Beef and Veal: Home Killed 230.6 196.7 Imported 84.7 80.0 Total 315.3 276.7 Mutton: Home Killed 8.3 8.0 Imported 9.1 14.2 Total 17.4 22.2 Lamb: Home Killed 29.7 34.3 Imported 84.0 81.9 Total 113.7 116.2 Pork*: Home Killed 126.2 109.1 Imported 1.5 2.9 Total 127.7 112.0 Total: Home Killed 394.8 348.1 Imported 179.3 179.0 Total 574.1 527.1 * These figures are not comparable with those given in reply to my hon. Friend's similar question on 21st February, 1964, which specified pigmeat.