§ 35. Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the quantity and value of meat imported from Yugoslavia and elsewhere during the last three months; and what he estimates will be the level during the next three months.
§ Mr. HoyYugoslav carcase meat imports consist mainly of chilled beef.
In the last quarter of 1964, we imported 3,200 tons of chilled and about 50 tons of frozen beef from Yugoslavia, worth nearly £900,000. Chilled beef imports from elsewhere totalled 41,100 tons valued 81W at £10 million. Frozen beef imports amounted to 52,000 tons worth nearly £14 million.
I anticipate that chilled beef imports during the current quarter will be about the same as October-December with good supplies of frozen beef; and I do not expect any significant change in the value of imports during this quarter.
38. Mr. J. E. B. Hillasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will institute a series of periodical statements giving his Department's estimates of United Kingdom requirements of meat and meat products, of the quantities likely to be available from home sources and of the balance which may require to be imported, as far as practicable on the lines of his present series of statistical statements and market information on cereals.
§ Mr. HoyThe arrangements for providing market information on cereals would not in some respects be appropriate for meat. We are however considering what improvements can be made in market information on meat as part of our review of fatstock and meat marketing.
§ 43. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reduction in the supply of meat from the Argentine he anticipates over the next five years.
§ Mr. HoySupplies from the Argentine have in recent months fallen to a lower rate than we have received in the past, but I do not expect there to be any further reduction in the course of this year. I cannot forecast further ahead than this.