§ 43. Mr. McKinlayasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the South of Scotland Wholesale Meat Supply Association, Limited, have now informed the Glasgow Food Control Committee that, approximately, 11??? tons of meat was allocated to Messrs. J. P. Louden, 34, Spoutmouth, Glasgow, between 2nd January and 27th February, 1941; that the meat consisted of silversides, outsides, topsides and insides of rumps; that this steak was used in the manufacture of beef ham; is he aware that the allocation was made on the instructions of the Director of Meat Manufactures, Colwyn Bay; and will he take steps to ascertain why this selected allocation was made?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI am aware that the South of Scotland Wholesale Meat Supply Association, Limited, have furnished the Glasgow Food Control Committee with particulars of the meat allocated to the firm mentioned by my hon. Friend during the period 2nd January to 27th February, 1941. The total quantity of meat allocated in this period was 13½ tons and consisted of cuts of imported beef, known in the trade as silversides, outsides, topsides and insides, which at that time were available for manufacturing purposes. As I stated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 9th April, this allocation was made to the firm on the instructions of the Ministry of Food for the production of boiled beef ham. In accordance with these instruc- 23 tions these particular cuts of meat were allocated when available to the firm but no instructions were given that these cuts should not be allocated to other manufacturers if required for manufacturing purposes.
§ Mr. McKinlayIs the Minister aware that this information was only issued on a threat of court proceedings; and is he further aware that definite instructions were issued from the Director of Meat Manufacturers at Colwyn Bay that J. P. Louden, and Messrs. Young & McMillan, Glasgow, only were to receive allocations of these cuts and that any other manufacturers were to receive allocations of whatever manufacturing meat was available? Is not that a selected allocation?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI should be obliged if the hon. Member would let me have those particulars. I can assure him that there is no selective allocation in being to-day.
§ Mr. McKinlayMust it always be necessary for Food Control Committees to take court proceedings through the local office to carry out the instructions of the Minister?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI do not know exactly to what the hon. Gentleman refers, but I have given all the information in my possession.
§ 44. Mr. McKinlayasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered a letter of protest from the secretary of the Glasgow and District Retail Fleshers Association against the action of the Ministry in granting supplies of manufacturing meat to J. P. Louden, 34, Spoutmouth, Glasgow, to enable them to manufacture sausages on a large scale; whether he is aware that the firm in question have installed machinery for this purpose; and why the application for machinery was supported by his Department to the Board of Trade Licence Department?
Major Lloyd GeorgeMy Department has received the letter mentioned from the Glasgow and District Retail Fleshers Defence Association about the manufacture of sausages by the firm mentioned by my hon. Friend, and inquiries are being made about the facilities which this firm has for sausage making.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the Minister aware that while this meat has been handed out in this fashion, small caterers have not been able to get meat of any kind?
§ Mr. McKinlayDo I understand that the Minister is not in a position to answer the latter part of my Question in relation to the Board of Trade licence for machinery?
Major Lloyd GeorgeInquiries are being made. Up to date, this firm have had one second-hand mincing machine and a motor.
§ 54. Mr. McKinlayasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the firm of John Gardner, Ltd., Partick, Glasgow, made a return to the Ministry on the prescribed form of the amount of meat used in manufacture in 1938; that no answer was received; that no allocations of meat had been received; that the firm in question's output of manufactured beef ham averaged 24 tons quarterly pre-war; that this firm's continuous production of this commodity for 75 years has ceased as a consequence; and. why his Department allowed this to occur?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe firm of John Gardner, Ltd., Partick, Glasgow, made a return in September, 1939, to the Wholesale Meat Supply Association of the meat used for manufacture in 1938. The receipt of this return was acknowledged by the Ministry of Food and as it was incomplete the firm were asked to submit an amended return which was duly received. I have no knowledge of this firm's output of different types of manufactured meat products made by this firm in peace-time as this information was neither asked for nor supplied. The return was not an application for supplies of meat and, as I stated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 9th April, the firm have not applied for allocations of meat as Group I meat manufacturers. As general butchers they have received the same allowance of meat for manufacture as all other such butchers who are not Group I manufacturers.
§ Mr. McKinlayIs the Minister totally unaware of the allegations in the Question and further, is he aware—
§ Mr. Speaker rose—
§ 55. Mr. Mathersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered the advisability of utilising motor trailer caravans as mobile canteens in the event of air raids; and whether any decision has been reached?
Major Lloyd GeorgeYes, Sir, but experience in the use of specially constructed trailer canteens is not such as would justify the increased use of trailer caravans for emergency feeding purposes, there are obvious difficulties in manoeuvring trailers into suitable positions and in driving them in thoroughfares congested by debris, apart from the necessity of securing suitable cars.