§ 48. Sir R. Clarryasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is the desire of his Department that consumers who can afford it should purchase the weekly additional four ounces of butter ration although with, reasonable care and undue sacrifice they could do without it, or whether he is advising consumers refraining from the purchase of the full eight ounces of butter per week and devoting the money so saved to other objects which do not involve foreign imports and purchases?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe supply of butter is subject to seasonal fluctuations, and the ration is fixed in relation to the stocks which are, for the time being, available for consumption. I see no reason, at the present stage, to suggest that national interests are served in the case of butter by voluntary rationing at a lower level than the official rationing.
§ 49. Mr. T. Williamsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what instructions have been given to farmers who produce small quantities of butter from their surplus milk; and whether they are allowed to sell, give away or dispose of it in any manner?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydFarmers who make their own butter may sell or give their output to registered customers against ration coupons, or to retailers or wholesalers who have to make a corresponding reduction in their appplications for national butter. All sales must be within the terms of the Butter (Maximum Prices) Order, 1940.
§ Mr. WilliamsIs the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that no consumer would give coupons to a small farmer who produced such a small quantity of butter, since he might not have any butter available? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I refer to those farmers who only occasionally have a surplus of milk which they must turn into butter, and will he tell the House what they should do?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydActually, a certain number of people have registered with farmers. The difficulty to which the hon. Gentleman draws attention is one which is bound to confront anybody concerned with the rationing of such a commodity.
§ Mr. WilliamsIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that farmers producing butter have been told to bury their butter?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI cannot accept that. If the hon. Gentleman has any real information to that effect, I should be interested to see it.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Acland-TroyteIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the regulations issued by his Department, with regard to prices, have killed the farm-house butter trade? Was this his intention?