§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to a complaint of Kent butchers that home-killed beef costs them more than in other areas; and what is the reason for discrimination?
§ Mr. MabaneYes, Sir, I am aware that Kent butchers have complained that they are penalised by having their beef charged to them at quarter prices. I am advised that there is no substance in the complaint. Beef is weighed and charged in quarters wherever facilities exist in order to save unnecesary handling, and the quarter prices are calculated to give the butcher a fair margin of profit. Weighing in sides is practised where it is not possible to weigh in quarters and there is no reason to think that butchers who are charged at the side price, which is the straight average of the quarter prices, gain any advantage. At some depots in the South-Eastern area until recently the side price was charged although the beef was weighed in quarters. This practice was irregular and has been stopped.