HC Deb 20 April 1920 vol 128 cc228-9
68. Major ENTWISTLE

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the long-continued holding up of large quantities of food at Hull and other ports; and if he can take steps to release them with a view to reducing the cost of living?

Mr. McCURDY

No exceptional stocks or exceptionally large quantities of foodstuffs under the control of my Department are being held up at Hull or other ports. As regards rationed commodities, such as sugar and butter, it is necessary to maintain a certain reserve supply in order to ensure the regularity of the ration, otherwise, apart from frozen meat, which is under the control of the Board of Trade, stocks imported on Government account are not large and are distributed as rapidly as possible.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Why has not the frozen meat been released upon the market so as to bring down the price?

Mr. PALMER

Is it not the fact that the right hon. Gentleman himself has seen an enormous stock of bacon held up at the London docks?

Mr. McCURDY

In regard to the last question, no, Sir, I have not seen enormous stocks of bacon being held up at the London docks.

Mr. PALMER

Mutton?

Mr. McCURDY

As to the question of the frozen meat, it would perhaps be more convenient if the hon. and gallant Gentleman would address his question to the President of the Board of Trade. But I may say that the question of frozen meat is receiving the joint and continuous attention at the present time of the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Food.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Will the hon. Gentleman answer my question, would not the release of this meat bring the price down?

Mr. McCURDY

No, Sir; the question is not so simple as the hon. and gallant Gentleman appears to consider. At the present time the distribution of frozen meat is very close up to the transport capacity of the country for distributing frozen meat.

Mr. G. TERRELL

Is it not the fact that those who have the handling of the frozen meat trade are very strongly opposed to the continuance of control, and is it not the fact that they say that the continuance of control is merely for the purpose of keeping control going in the interests of the officials engaged in it?

Mr. McCURDY

I am quite aware that statements of that kind are being made. I also profoundly dissent from the justice or the reasoning of the statement in the question.

Mr. RENWICK

Would it not be more convenient if the control of frozen meat was placed under the Food Controller rather than the Board of Trade?

Mr. TERRELL

Is it not the opportunity, now that there is an abundance of frozen meat, for getting rid of control? Is not the time of abundance the time to abandon control? It cannot be abandoned when there is a shortage.