§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND - TROYTEasked the Minister of Agriculture on what consideration it is estimated that the supply of home-grown meat to the Forces for six months in the year would increase the cost of meat to the public; and whether there is any reason for revising this estimate?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe late Government, in promising to supply home-fed meat to the Forces, obviously believed that this arrangement would tend to raise the price of home-fed beef to an extent that would prove beneficial to the home feeder. Unless this was anticipated, their promise was valueless. The present Government, after reviewing all the circumstances, came to the conclusion that, in practice, the proposal might also raise the price of fresh beef to the consumer in some seasons. There is no reason to revise this conclusion as, although the proposal has not been put into operation, there are already indications of a rise in beef prices due to various causes and if the War Department were now in the market as a buyer for the Forces, my right hon. Friend is advised that the rise might be accentuated to a point affecting retail prices.