Viscountess Astorasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will state the price paid for the beef and mutton which is being purchased from the Argentine; the average price of similar beef and mutton six months ago and a year ago both in the Argentine and Australia; and the price of frozen meat at similar times?
91W
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonNegotiations with certain supplying countries regarding the purchase of beef and mutton are still proceeding, and I regret, therefore, that it is not possible to give the information requested in the first part of the question.
Date. Beef (chilled quality). Mutton (frozen). Argentine. Australian. Argentine. Australian. d. d. d. d. May, 1939 … … 4⅞ 4 3½ 3⅜ October, 1938 … … 5¼ 4¾ 4 3⅞ In answer to the last part of the question, the prices for mutton are as shown in the above table. In the case of beef, Argentine frozen beef (as distinct from chilled quality) imported at the dates mentioned in the table did not come on to the market and price quotations are therefore lacking. In the case of Australian frozen beef of fair average quality, the average wholesale prices in pence per pound ex store in the United Kingdom were:
May, 1939 3½d October, 1938 3⅞d