§ 19. Mr. LEVYasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the details of the meat purchases for the Army during the past three months in pounds of beef, mutton, pork and bacon?
§ 18. Colonel BROADBENTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the figures of meat purchases for the Army for the past three months; and what would have been the cost if only home-produced meat had been supplied?
§ 63. Major CARVERasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the figures of meat purchases for the Air Force for the past three months; and what would have been the cost if only home-produced meat had been supplied?
§ 64. Mr. PIKEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the details of the meat purchases for the Air Force during the past three months in pounds of beef, mutton, pork and bacon?
§ Mr. COOPERI will answer these questions together, as the purchase of meat for the Royal Air Force is made by my Department. The quantity of beef and mutton purchased for the Army and the Royal Air Force at home for the past three months amounted to approximately 7,000,000 lbs., and if home-killed meat had been supplied, the cost would have been rather more than doubled. The precise amount of mutton purchased is not available, but it would be inconsiderable and certainly less than one-seventh of the total. Pork does not form part of the soldier's ration; and bacon is purchased by the troops through the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes.
§ Mr. PIKEDoes not the hon. Gentleman consider that it would improve the physique and efficiency, especially of members of the Air Force, if, as in the case of the engines over which they have control, they were fed on British power?
Viscountess ASTORDoes not the hon. Gentleman think that it would be better policy to encourage the Services to eat British meat than to subsidise the wheat grower?
§ Mr. COOPERThey eat nothing but British meat.
42. Major BRAITHWAITEasked the Minister of Agriculture the additional 1096 cost of the Treasury if His Majesty's Forces were supplied with home-produced meat during the next three months?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Sir John Gilmour)It is estimated that the additional cost would be somewhat over £160,000.
§ 61. Mr. HANNONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give the details of the meat purchases for the Navy during the past three months in pounds of beef, mutton, pork, and bacon?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Lord Stanley)The purchases of beef and mutton for the Navy at home during the past three months were 465 tons and 50 tons, respectively. No purchases of pork were made, as this item is only supplied during the period 1st October to 31st March. Bacon is not included in the Service standard ration, and any bacon consumed is purchased directly or indirectly, mainly from Navy, Army and Air Fore Institutes. Details of quantities so bought are not readily available.
§ Mr. HANNONAre we to assume from the answer that all the meat purchased for the Navy is British meat?