§ Mr. RATCLIFFEasked the Food Controller whether the original arrangement of a 20 per cent. meat retailer's gross profit made with the National Federation came to an end on 8th March, 1918; if he is aware of the letter from his Department, dated 18th May, 1918, in which it is specifically stated that there is a calculated profit of 20 per cent. on the value of the meat; and will he give the date of publication of any Order rescinding that arrangement?
§ Mr. G. ROBERTSThe Meat (Maximum Prices) Order, 1917, prescribed maximum retail prices on the basis that such prices should not exceed the cost of the meat to the retailer by more than either 21d. per lb. or 20 per cent. of the cost, whichever should be the less. This method of fixing retail prices was superseded by the Meat (Retail Prices) Order of the 8th March, 1918, which fixed the actual prices at which meat might be sold retail. There was no obligation conveyed in the Order of the 29th August, 1917, that the arrangement which prescribed the percentage of profit should be maintained throughout the whole period of control and although the schedule of prices which was in operation on the 18th May, 1918,1812W may have given a calculated profit of 20 per cent., I have subsequently found it necessary, on the advice of my Costings Department, to make reductions in the margin of profit allowed.
§ Mr. RATCLIFFEasked the Food Controller why the recent advance of 2¼d. per lb. has been made on the wholesale price of meat, seeing that both English and imported meat is more plentiful than it has been at any period this year, and that not only is live stock plentiful but there are huge quantities of imported meat waiting to be unshipped and shippers are obliged to keep it on board for want of refrigerating space on shore?
§ Mr. ROBERTSThe hon. Member is doubtless aware that it is usual for homegrown meat to be more plentiful in t he autumn than at any other season of the year. It is also the case that large supplies of imported meat arc available. In view, however, of the possibility of a future shortage of home-grown meat, it has been considered advisable to encourage the farmer to continue to produce cattle during the coining winter and spring; and to that end cattle prices have been advanced to a figure which has necessitated the rise in price to which the hon. Member refers.