§ 21. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has now decided to introduce a scheme for selling beef, fresh and frozen, at a cheaper price to institutions and to old-age pensioners, and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BishopA Community scheme for the sale of beef to non-profit making institutions is being introduced and the necessary measures to implement this scheme in the United Kingdom are in preparation. The Government are still considering the possibility of making cheap beef available to those in receipt of social welfare benefits.
§ 22. Mr. Charles Morrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he intends to ensure that beef producers receive a minimum return of £18 per cwt.; and why the return is not made up to that figure after the addition of the premia announced on 17th July.
§ Mr. BishopAs my right hon. Friend said in the House on 17th July we are satisfied that the scheme which was announced then should ensure returns of about £18 per cwt. for clean cattle over the period of its operation. If producers respond to the assurance which these premia provide, average returns over the period until March should substantially exceed this figure.
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§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will specify month by month from September 1974 to March 1975 the per capita premia for clean beef animals slaughtered.
§ Mr. BuchanAs announced in the House on 17th July, my right hon. Friend will make a further statement on this subject as soon as possible.