§ Sir W. GREAVES-LORDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is
1730W(b) The approximate dates on which supplies of these imports and the home produce first reached the British market in bulk, together with the approximate average prices realised at those dates.
I must, however, point out that the prices given in the following tables for foreign imports and home produce are not necessarily comparable, as they do not always relate to the same varieties.
aware that difficulties have arisen in regard to the marking of Scotch beef at Smithfield Market and that, in cones- 1731W quence, no Scotch beef is being marked in that market; and whether he will take steps to see that the public are protected by making provision that Scotch beef shall be marked in the same way that other home-killed meat is marked?
Mr. W. ADAMSONI have been asked to reply. The question appears to be based on a misapprehension. All the Scottish beef sold in Smithfield (save a small proportion) is marked with the Scottish National Mark, which is applied to the meat at the centres in Scotland where the cattle are killed. I may inform the hon. Member that since the scheme came into operation on 2nd November, 1929, the number of Scottish sides of beef marked has risen from 637 per week to 2,469 per week.