§ Mr. Mathersasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give particulars of the prevailing prices of feeding-stuffs and of the products of the poultry industry in January, February, and March, 1935, 1936, and 1937, respectively; and whether he can give any indication of Government policy as the result of his active consideration of the plight of poultry farmers?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonAs regards the first part of the question, the information required is given in the following table. As regards the second part, I am not in a position to make a statement.
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Average Prices of certain descriptions of Eggs, Fowls and Feeding Stuffs. January—March, 1935, 1936 and 1937. Period. Wheat, per cwt.(b). Oats, per cwt.(b). Maize, Argentine, per cwt.(c). Bran, British, per ton(c). Weatings, per ton(c). Fish Meal, per ton(c). Eggs. Fowls, 1st Quality, per lb.(e). N.M. Standard weight, per 120(d). 1st Quality, per doz. (e). 1935— s. d. s. d. s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. January … 4 9 6 10 5 3 6 12 6 6 10 6 16 9 0 14 0 1 4¼ 1 1½ February … 4 8 7 0 4 9 6 5 6 6 0 0 16 1 0 13 1 1 2½ 1 2¼ March (a) … 4 7 6 10 5 0 5 18 0 5 14 0 15 16 0 10 0 11 1 0¾ 1936— January … 6 3 5 11 4 2 6 8 6 6 8 0 15 6 0 16 9 1 7¼ 1 2¼ February … 6 4 6 0 4 0 6 6 0 6 1 6 15 3 0 15 4 1 5¾ 1 2½ March (a) … 6 3 6 0 4 3 6 3 0 5 18 6 14 18 6 10 11 1 0¼ 1 0¾ 1937— January … 9 9 8 2 5 11 8 9 6 8 12 6 15 6 0 13 10 1 4¼ 1 1¼ February … 9 1 8 3 5 11 8 5 0 8 2 6 15 6 0 14 9 1 5¼ 1 1¾ March (a) … 8 11 8 2 6 0 7 19 6 7 19 0 15 6 0 13 1 1 2½ 1 0¼ (a) Mean of first three weeks. (b) Average prices returned at markets scheduled under the Corn Returns Act, 1882, and the Corn Sales Act, 1921. (c) Average prices at wholesale markets at Bristol, Hull, Liverpool and London. Prices are ex mill or store and, for bran, weatings and fish meal, relate to quantities of not less than two tons. (d) Average prices at London. The minimum weight of eggs graded under National Mark Standard Weight was reduced on 1st September, 1936, from 2 0zs. to 1⅞ ozs. (e) Average prices at certain representative markets in England and Wales.