§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent there has been a response to his recent appeal for a reduction in the price of beef to retail customers; what were the average prices of the various cuts of beef before and since his appeal; and what further action he proposes to take to ensure that the reductions in meat prices are passed on to the retail customers.
§ Mr. PeartBecause of the very wide range of cuts sold in some 40,000 shops, and the quality and other variations even between apparently comparable cuts, it is impracticable to quote price changes in the way my hon. Friend asks. But I have sufficient reports of competitive reductions, particularly on stewing, braising and brisket beef, to show that there are opportunities for many customers to buy very cheaply the cuts that are most plentiful. I shall continue to watch the situation.