HC Deb 11 July 1927 vol 208 cc1736-7
14. Mr. LAMB (for Mr. HURD)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many meat and other food contracts, and of what value, have been given to British home producers following upon the representations of the Empire Marketing Board to the Army, Navy and Air Force Departments?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

I think that my hon. Friend may perhaps have misunderstood the reply given to his question on this subject on the 30th June. The policy of His Majesty's Government in Great Britain in this matter is as stated by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on the 20th June. No question, therefore, arises of any action being taken, as the result of representations made by the Empire Marketing Board, which would not otherwise have been taken by the Departments concerned.

41. Mr. LAMB (for Mr. HURD)

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was paid last year for meat for the Army, Navy and Air Force, distinguishing between British home produce, British overseas Empire produce, and foreign produce, respectively?

Mr. McNEILL

I am informed that practically the whole of the meat purchased for the Army and Air Force last year was British overseas Empire produce. Its value, including the value of preserved meat, was approximately £921,000. This amount does not include certain foreign stations where contracts are made locally and as to which the information is not available, nor home stations the requirements of which are less than 100 lbs. a day. The value of these small home purchases is estimated at about £16,000, of which approximately one-half was for home-killed meat. In the case of the Navy, a total sum of £392,000 was paid last year at home and abroad. So far as can be calculated, this amount was made up of British home produce, £3,300; British overseas Empire produce, £359,000, and foreign produce, £29,700.

Lieut. - Colonel ACLAND - TROYTE

Will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with these Departments to see that they use more home-grown meat?

42. Mr. LAMB (for Mr. HURD)

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the British home, as distinct from the British overseas Empire, proportion of the £2,894,000 spent upon meat for the Army, Navy and Air Force during the last three years?

Mr. McNEILL

I am informed that the portion of the sum of £2,894,000 representing meat purchased for the Army and Air Force is £2,448,000. The whole of the latter sum was for the purchase of meat from the British overseas Empire. As stated in the previous reply, the above amounts do not include home stations at which requirements are less than 100 lbs. a day or certain foreign stations where contracts are made locally. At these smaller home stations the total value of home-killed meat obtained is roughly estimated to have been about £25,000. In the case of the Navy, the amount spent on British home-produced meat during the period mentioned is estimated at £10,900.