§ 88. Major Sir 'BERTRAM FALLEasked the Food Controller if complaints have 258 been made as to the quality of the butter now being supplied through the Controller to Portsmouth retailers by the chief inspector, Portsmouth; whether the Ministry of Food has been approached without much success and that the local food control committee is helpless; and if ho will take steps to have this matter put right?
Mr. ROBERTSI am informed that complaints of the nature referred to have been received. Owing to the present world shortage of butter the supplies available for distribution in this country are extremely limited, and it has in very occasional instances been fumed necessary, in order to maintain the ration, to distribute butter of slightly lower grade. I can, however, assure the hon. and gallant Member that every endeavour is being made to maintain the quality of the butter supply at as high a level as possible.
§ Sir B. FALLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Food Controller at Portsmouth has said that the baiter supplied to that town is so bad that there is three week's supply in the town, and the retailers are obliged to keep their stocks because they cannot sell them?
Mr. ROBERTSIt is quite true that they have to take such supplies as we allot to them, but I was not aware that any quantity was so objectionable. I knew that they were fastidious, but I thought that we had catered for their taste.