§ Mr. CRUMLEYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the average price of fat cattle in Dublin markets on 25th July was 65s. per cwt. live-weight, equivalent to 1s. per lb. dressed, that the prices of mutton and lamb were about the same, namely, a 1s. per lb. dressed, and that consequently best cuts could be sold by the retailer to the public with reasonable profit at 1s. 4d. per lb.; and, if so, will be say what steps he proposes to take?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe information at my disposal does not bear out the suggestion contained in the first part of the question. Recent quotations of prices at the Dublin fat cattle market show that the average price for best bullocks and heifers on the date mentioned was 75s. per cwt. live weight and for second quality 68s. With regard to the latter part of the question, I may point out that retail meat prices are not fixed in Ireland. The butcher, however, must not exceed in any fortnight a gross profit of 2½d. per lb., or 20 per cent. on the cost of the meat to him.
§ Sir J. SPEARasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that much of the frozen meat supplied to butchers in Devon lately has been of very poor quality, some of it being quite unfit for human food, and has he seen the report that 3,000 lbs. of frozen meat had to be destroyed at Plymouth last week, and the statement that some of the meat had been in cold storage for four years; and will he take steps to prevent a recurrence of this?
§ Mr. CLYNESI was not aware that any of the frozen meat supplied to butchers in Devon was unfit for human food or that 3,000 lbs. of this meat had to be destroyed at Plymouth last week. I am making inquiries into the truth of these allegations, and will inform the hon. Member of the result.