§ Major Carverasked the Minister of Agriculture why the prices of all sorts of butter are rising; what is the average price of English butter; what is the percentage of English butter placed on the market; and whether, in a case of shortage, the butter factories of the country are in a position to increase their output?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe recent increase in prices of butter may be associated with the reduced supplies available in the past two months, retained imparts in September having been nearly1430W 30 per cent. less than in September of last year. Home-produced butter is the product both of farms and of creameries and average prices during October were 1s. 4¼d. per lb. for farm butter and 1s. 5d. per lb. for creamery butter. It is estimated that home-produced butter accounts for approximately 10 per cent. of the total supply of butter in the United Kingdom. As regards the last part of the question, I have no doubt that factories could increase their output of butter if additional supplies of milk were available for the purpose.