§ 36. Sir F. FLANNERYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the delay and inconvenience to the public in the deliveries of frozen meat in the district of Halstead, Essex; whether he is aware that the frozen meat is not forwarded until Friday night in each week, so that it arrives so late on Saturday that it is impossible to be taken the necessary distances of several miles to village butchers; that the wives of agricultural labourers have to walk several miles for meat when better arrangements might enable it to be distributed locally; whether he is aware that queues are more in evidence round butchers' shops in Hal-stead in consequence than ever before; that the present procedure is for the local butcher to acquaint the local buyer, who in practice knows of his requirements, the buyer in turn to notify the local food control committee, who communicate with the deputy meat agent, who in turn passes the matter on to the meat agent, who, in his turn, sends on to the associated meat importers' committee, who in due course give the order to the appointed wholesaler; and whether he will state what action will be taken to improve the procedure?
§ Mr. CLYNESI am informed that requisitions for supplies of imported meat have been received on three occasions from the district referred to. No delay appears to have occurred in the dispatch of the meat, though there was a regrettable delay in transit. The procedure adopted in cases where it is necessary to requisition supplies of imported meat for any district is not altogether that described by the hon. Baronet, and it is found that in practice there is no unnecessary delay in dispatch, owing to the fact that the various officers concerned are in constant communication with one another. Every possible effort will be made to accelerate both dispatch and delivery.