47. Colonel NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether he will take an early opportunity of informing the House as to the stocks of meat, sugar, and butter now held by the Government of this country or by the Governments of other countries on its behalf, and the reasons which pre vent these stocks being made immediately available for consumption?
§ Mr. PARKER (Lord of the Treasury)I have been asked to reply. The total recorded stock of butter in the United Kingdom on the 1st February was 245 12,000 tons. Of this, 10,900 tons was m the hands of the Ministry of Food, the balance consisting chiefly of butter In Ireland. The stock of imported meat on the same date was 142,000 tons, of which 115,000 tons were in the hands of the Ministry of Food or the Board of Trade. The stock of sugar in bond, as returned by His Majesty's Customs, was 286,000 tons, but the amount now held by the Sugar Commission is considerably under this figure. Stocks of meat awaiting shipment from the Colonies are large, and at the present moment supplies are ample. Butter, when obtained, is brought to this country as speedily as possible. Sugar supplies require to be carefully husbanded in view of the present high prices and the uncertain outlook.
§ Mr. G. TERRELLAnswer.
§ Mr. PARKERI cannot answer without notice.
§ Captain REDMONDIs it not a fact that there are thousands of tons of frozen meat at present in ships lying in the ports of this country, that those ports are congested, and that there is a large available supply of frozen meat in the Colonies awaiting shipment; and why cannot this supply be released for home consumption?
§ Mr. PARKERPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will address that question to the representative of the Food Controller when he is able to be present.
§ Captain REDMONDI will put a question to-morrow about it.
§ Mr. STEVENSWill the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the Prime Minister, to whom the question is addressed, and ask if he will endeavour to be in his place on Wednesday next week?