§ 60. Mr. Daggarasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that some dissatisfaction is expressed in parts of South Wales and Monmouthshire regarding the canned condensed milk ration, which is on a basis of 45 per cent. of the sales in 1938, but that with an increased working population, and large numbers of evacuees, the quantity now available to meet present requirements does not reach the 45 per cent., but is rather in the region of 20 per cent.; and whether he will consider adopting a sliding scale which shall be related to the incidence of population?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Mr. Boothby)The consumption of condensed milk varies considerably from district to district, and it would not be satisfactory for distribution to be regulated solely by reference to population. For some months the supplies released for distribution have been restricted with the object of conserving stocks, but during August the quantities released were increased, and from 1st September the distribution will be based upon more recent statistical information than has hitherto been available.