§ Mr. TERRELLasked the Minister of Labour whether any statistics obtained by his Department indicate that since the entry of Canadian store cattle into this country retail prices of meat have fallen by at least 6d. per pound; if not, whether he will communicate with the National Federation of Meat Traders' Association on the subject of the promise of such a reduction given by that body; and what effect a 6d. per pound reduction of meat prices would have upon the cost-of-living index numbers?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe latest statistics of retail prices of meat collected by the Ministry of Labour relate to 31st March, and I am not yet able to state what changes in prices have taken effect since 1st April, when the Importation of Animals Act came into operation. An average reduction of 6d. per lb. in retail prices of meat (including both British and imported meat) would reduce the cost-of-living figure by about 12 points, but such an all-round reduction cannot be anticipated, as some of the cheaper cuts of imported meat are already sold at less than 6d. per lb. If the reduction were confined to British meat and the dearer cuts of imported meat, the index figure would be reduced by about 7½ points,