Colonel THORNEasked the Food Controller what are the grounds on which it has been decided to be necessary to increase the price of meat to the public; whether he will state how his Department would estimate a bullock of 10 cwt. live weight to work out; what would be the yield in beef, weight of hide, head and feet, intestines, liver, heart, tongue, lights, etc; what would be the wholesale return for each and the total for the animal; how would this compare with the cost; and what are the details of the estimated departmental charges against the animal?
§ Major ASTORAn increase in the price of meat to the public is required in order to meet the increased cost of meat imported from the United States, and to cover the distribution charges which are at present borne by the Ministry of Food. The particulars asked for in the second part of the question are of too hypothetical a character to be usefully embodied in a Parliamentary answer, but I have caused an estimate to be prepared and sent to my hon. Friend.