HC Deb 28 October 1947 vol 443 cc69-70W
30. Mr. Skeffington

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the price of meat, poultry and fish in Cyprus is prohibitive for the majority of the population; and whether he is satisfied that the local population is not placed at a disadvantage in regard to food supplies by the presence of large numbers of troops and refugees in Cyprus.

Mr. Rees-Williams

The prices of meat, fish and poultry in Cyprus are admittedly high, but there has been no increase in the cost of locally-produced meat during the last year, some prices having indeed decreased; and the existing prices are so far from being prohibitive that consumption per head is today higher than it was in 1939. The Army uses only imported meat. Such restricted quantities of locally-produced meat as are used as Kosher meat in the camps for illegal Jewish immigrants are replaced by imported frozen meat, which is unrationed and sold at a lower price than local meat, so helping to keep the prices of local meat within bounds.