HC Deb 14 February 1940 vol 357 cc762-4
54. Mr. T. Williams

asked the Minister of Food why those business concerns in Doncaster who, prior to control, used all the tripe produced in Doncaster, are now denied the tripe produced at the central slaughter-house; and why this tripe is sent out of the district?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

Weather conditions during the first two or three weeks after the control plan came into operation were so abnormal as to reduce seriously the number of animals coming forward for slaughter. As a result, business concerns in Doncaster, as elsewhere, could only be allocated a percentage of their requirements of home-produced tripe. The supply situation is now improving. As regards the second part of the Question, the authorised slaughterhouse serves an area beyond the boundaries of Doncaster and the needs of the whole area served has to be taken into account.

Mr. Williams

Is the right hon. Member satisfied that vested interests are not intervening; that offals are being sent out of the Doncaster area to another area then repurchased and brought back? Is that the way to conserve petrol?

Mr. Morrison

I have seen no evidence of that, but if the hon. Member has any facts I shall be glad to look into them.

55. Mr. T. Williams

asked the Minister of Food the name of the controller of fat for Yorkshire and the business he was associated with before accepting this post?

Mr. Morrison

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the arrangements made by the Ministry of Food for the distribution of raw fats available at the Government slaughterhouses to the edible section of the fat melting industry for the production of dripping. Local committees of fat melters have been set up in various parts of the country to facilitate the distribution arrangements and to secure economy in the use of motor transport used for the collection and distribution of the fats. The chairmen of these committees, who are serving without remuneration, are responsible for the allocation of raw fats to individual melters on a basis laid down by the Department, and for the invoicing of the raw fats delivered to the melters. The chairman of the Area Committee which includes Yorkshire is Mr. A. Waddington who is associated with the firm of Messrs. P. Waddington and Company, Crossley Hall Bone Works, Bradford.

Mr. Williams

Is the Minister aware that this Controller is directly interested in a fat refinery, and to that extent is able to exercise influence to the benefit of his own factory or the factories allied to his factory?

Mr. Morrison

I have made particular inquiries into this matter, as I guessed something like that was behind the Question. I am told that it has been the policy of Mr. Waddington, the gentleman in question, to look after the interests of all other melters even to the detriment of his own firm. The basis on which the chairman allocates these fats is one laid down by the Department.

Mr. Garro Jones

Whatever merits the scheme may have, is it not the case that it has resulted in an increase in the price of dripping by more than 100 per cent. to poor people? What steps does the right hon. Gentleman propose to get a better result?

Mr. Morrison

I should like to have notice of that question.

56. Mr. T. Williams

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the Doncaster Co-operative Society, who slaughtered 50 or more animals per week prior to control, utilised all the fat for their own customers and other users in the district; that since control all the fat from the central slaughterhouse is sent out of the district and users are obliged to purchase and convey the same back from 30 or 40 miles away; and why this unnecessary transport is enforced and local firms are denied the right to purchase fat from their own slaughterhouse?

Mr. Morrison

The licensing provisions, under which raw fat required for the production of dripping is allocated to approved manufacturers, have been in force since 25th September, 1939, and the Doncaster Co-operative Society did not apply for a licence until 19th January. The nearest licensed manufacturer from whom they could obtain supplies is at Leeds. The Ministry, is, however, now reviewing the position in the Yorkshire area in the light of the application for a licence from the Doncaster Co-operative Society and other Co-operative Societies, with the object of facilitating the provision of the fats required by these societies for the manufacture of dripping. If the Doncaster Co-operative Society requires raw fat for other manufacturing purposes they should apply to the Wholesale Meat Supply Association for the North Eastern Area, Wood Lane, Belmont, Leeds, which will make the necessary arrangements for a supply to be allocated to them.

Mr. Williams

Does the right hon. Gentleman see now the connection between this Question and the last? Does he deny that all the fats produced from the slaughter of cattle in the Doncaster area were prior to his scheme utilised by the Co-operative Society for fish fryers and restaurants, whereas now the fat is sent to a place 40 miles away from Doncaster and then repurchased and brought back to the Doncaster area? Will the right hon. Gentleman have a detailed inquiry made where interested persons are in control?

Mr. Morrison

I understand the explanation to be that which I have given—namely, that the Doncaster Co-operative Society did not apply for a licence until 19th January. There were no licensed premises in that area and the fat had to be sent to the nearest licensed premises, in Leeds.

Sir Herbert Williams

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that this is a good reason why we should not nationalise things?