§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the great difference between the first wholesale prices of imported or English meat and those at which the commodity reaches the consumer and whether, even under decontrol, the Board can issue weekly statements giving the fair average prices which should be paid by purchasers in the ordinary retail shops and markets of the country?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The circumstances do not, however, appear to render desirable the resumption of control of distribution without which, as experience has shown, any really effective control of retail prices is impossible.
§ Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Agriculture what number of cattle from Canada and the United States respectively have arrived at British ports for slaughter since the re-opening of this trade in transatlantic fat cattle; what further shipments have been arranged for and whether he can trace any effect upon the price of meat to the British consumer as a result of these shipments?
Sir A. BOSCAWENReturns supplied to me show that the numbers of cattle which arrived at British ports from the864W United States and Canada between 9th March and 28th May last were 14,740 and 2,007 respectively. Further shipments are expected during the coming month of 8,858 cattle. The information available does not show what proportion will be of Canadian origin. Wholesale prices of meat have recently tended to fall, but it is not possible to state how far the fall has been due to supplies of imported cattle killed at the ports.