§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has considered the protest by the Gourock Branch of the Greenock Central Cooperative Women's Guild against the rise in the price of butcher meat and the proposed rise in the price of milk, which was communicated to him by the hon. Member for Greenock; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonYes, Sir. As to the trend of retail meat prices since decontrol of home-killed meat prices on 4th December, the decision to lift control of the price of home-killed meat was taken, as I stated in the House, only after full examination of the position and in view of the difficulties which were being experienced in marketing fat stock. There is under normal conditions a seasonal advance in the price of home-killed meat during the weeks immediately preceding Christmas, and I am advised that the increases which in fact did occur in the Gourock area were not greater than were to be expected at that time of the year. The price of imported meat remained controlled, and additional supplies of imported meat were made available for those parts of the country where there is a larger demand for cheaper cuts. With the introduction of full control of meat and livestock on 15th January, maximum retail prices for both home-killed and imported meat were prescribed by Order.
The concern felt at the possibility of an increase in the price of milk was shared by His Majesty's Government, and it was with the object of preventing increased prices that it was decided, as I announced in the House on 14th December, to make a grant to the Milk Marketing Boards on the condition that the retail prices of milk were maintained at their existing level.