BUTTER.

HC Deb 08 November 1939 vol 353 cc219-22

68. Mr. A. Jenkins

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is now in a position to state the quantity of butter returned in South Wales and Monmouthshire by traders owing to its unsatisfactory condition?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

I am informed that a total of 67 tons of butter was returned by traders in the South Wales area.

Mr. Jenkins

Has the Minister made inquiries as to whether the organisation is so inefficient as to allow the issue of 67 tons of butter which was in an unsatisfactory state for consumption?

Mr. Morrison

I have been inquiring into the matter, as I have informed the hon. Member on previous occasions. What happened, I am told, was that butter of a class to which consumers there were unaccustomed was delivered. The matter was put right as quickly as possible.

Mr. Jenkins

Is it not a fact that the butter is not under the control of the regional food officers, and will he take steps to see that it is brought under a proper form of control?

Mr. McGovern

May I ask why there is such a small supply of butter in Scotland that last weekend most housewives could not get butter in Glasgow and the surrounding area?

69. Mr. Jenkins

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the average cost per hundredweight of butter requisitioned by the Government, and the profit per hundredweight realised?

Mr. Morrison

The price of requisitioned butter has to be determined in the light of the compensation payable in accordance with the terms of the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, and depends on the particular circumstances of each requisitioned parcel. Inquiries have not yet been completed and it is not yet possible to give a figure of average cost. The profit or loss if any, which will accrue to the Ministry on resale cannot therefore be stated with precision at the moment but I should add that the selling price fixed by the Ministry was calculated on the best available information so as to do no more than ensure, as far as possible, that the Ministry is not involved in a loss.

Mr. Jenkins

When does the Minister expect to be in a position to supply that figure?

Mr. Morrison

As soon as the information is collected.

Mr. A. V. Alexander

Is it not a fact that the average price of butter requisitioned by the Government to the people from whom it was requisitioned was 118s. per cwt, and that the Government's selling price to the trade is 145s. per cwt.

Mr. Morrison

As I have stated in the answer it is not yet possible to state any average price, because the compensation payable has to be determined under the rules of another Order.

Mr. Holdsworth

Is it not correct to say that the Government are profiteering on all the foodstuffs they are commandeering?

Mr. Morrison

No, Sir.

78. Mr. Cocks

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in view of the fact that the population in the Hucknall area has been increased by the presence of 1,000 evacuee children, by the billeting of women working at the flying station, and by the semi-billeting of many airmen and soldiers, he will give instructions for the increase of the supply of butter to the Hucknall Cooperative Society, which, in the week ended 28th October, was limited to 40 per cent.?

Mr. Morrison

I am aware that the population of Hucknall has increased since the beginning of the war and suppliers have been instructed to take account of such re-distribution of the population in allocating supplies to their trade customers. Officers of the Ministry are investigating the matter with a view to seeing whether, within the limits of the total supplies available, some additional allocation to Hucknall can properly be made.

79. Mr. Cocks

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in view of the fact that the requisition order applying to butter was limited to stocks over a certain weight, he will state what that weight was; and whether he can give an estimate of the total amount of butter to which the requisition order was not applied?

Mr. Morrison

The Butter (Requisition and Control) Order of 22nd September, 1939, required that every person holding stocks of butter in any cold store where the total refrigerated space was not less than 2,000 cubic feet, clear of all apparatus, should place all such butter at the disposal of the Minister of Food. I am unable to estimate the total amount of butter to which the Order was not applied.

Mr. Cocks

Cannot the Minister, even at this late hour, take steps to requisition these stocks?

Mr. Morrison

I do not think that would be very valuable.

80. Mr. Cocks

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he can now state the results of his inquiries into the alleged maldistribution of butter in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, whereby private traders have been able to obtain ample supplies at a time when the Hucknall Co-operative Society was limited to under a quarter-pound per head?

Mr. Morrison

I am making further investigation into the alleged maldistribution of butter in Hucknall in the light of the information the hon. Member has been good enough to send me and I will communicate the result to him as soon as possible.

Mr. Cocks

Is the Minister aware that this week the Hucknall Co-operative Society have only received 26 cwts. of butter whereas they need 40 cwts. to supply ¼ lb. of butter per head to their customers, and will he therefore take steps to release another 14 cwts. this week to complete their ration?

Mr. Morrison

I am having the matter investigated and I will communicate with the hon. Member.