HC Deb 14 February 1940 vol 357 cc758-61
51. Mr. J. Morgan

asked the Minister of Food whether he has found it possible to meet the Argentine Government's wishes concerning the allocation of the meat quota increase from that country; and whether the producer co-operative concerns have been allocated a reasonable share of the British Government's additional orders for meat?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

I am at present discussing this matter with His Excellency the Argentine Ambassador.

Mr. Morgan

May we take it that the Minister will have full regard to the pro- ducer co-operative interests in the Argentine as against the British and American packing houses?

Mr. Morrison

I will endeavour to have regard to all relevant considerations.

Mr. Morgan

May I ask whether the Minister did not, in fact, first award this contract to packing houses and ignore the co-operative interests?

Mr. Morrison

That is a complete misstatement of the facts.

60. Colonel Baldwin-Webb

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that Market Drayton and district had no meat whatever in the week ended 3rd February; and whether he can explain the causes producing this result?

Mr. Morrison

I have had inquiries made into the allegation contained in the Question and I am assured that the Market Drayton butchers had their full allocation of the available supplies of meat from the Whitchurch depot during the week ended 3rd February. Unfortunately owing to the condition of the roads, supplies could not be delivered to Market Drayton and allocated to butchers on the Tuesday as in the previous weeks, but supplies were allocated on the Thursday.

Colonel Baldwin-Webb

Is it not the case that butchers made journeys through the snow in order to collect their meat and found that there was none?

Mr. Morrison

I am not aware of that.

61. Colonel Baldwin-Webb

asked the Minister of Food whether, as the distribution of meat system is not answering satisfactorily in Shropshire, he proposes to reinvestigate it with the object of establishing additional slaughter-houses in the county and avoiding the unnecessary transport charges which must now be incurred?

Mr. Morrison

I cannot accept the suggestion contained in my hon. and Gallant Friend's question that the control scheme for meat and livestock is not operating reasonably well in Shropshire, having regard to the short period in which the scheme has been in operation and the weather conditions during part of this time. I am watching the situation, however, in all areas, and any adjustments which appear necessary in the national interests will be made.

Colonel Baldwin-Webb

Will my right hon. Friend endeavour to see that butchers and consumers receive their meat whether it is foreign meat or fresh meat as the case might be, as this policy of switching over from foreign to fresh meat is causing a great deal of discontent?

Mr. Morrison

The answer to that condition of affairs is that during this period, owing to the condition of the roads, very little home-killed meat was in fact offered, and had it not been for the control, enabling imported meat to be brought in, they would have gone without.

Mr. De la Bère

Can my right hon. Friend examine what is happening in the county of Worcestershire, especially as regards Droitwich?

65. Mr. Marshall L

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that on 6th February a meeting, attended by 400 Sheffield butchers, was held to discuss the serious shortage of meat in the city; that a resolution was passed at the meeting protesting at the control of Sheffield's meat supplies being directed from Leeds; and whether, in view of the discontent this arrangement is causing, he is now prepared to give to Sheffield its own controlling office?

Mr. Morrison

I am aware that a meeting of butchers was held in Sheffield to discuss the meat supplies of the city, and that dissatisfaction was expressed at Leeds being the headquarters of the Area Meat and Livestock Organisation for the North Eastern Area. Sheffield, however, has two deputy meat agents who are responsible for the efficient and equitable distribution of meat in the Sheffield district and I am not satisfied that any change in this organisation is necessary. Should experience indicate that an alteration is desirable, the question will be further considered.

Mr. Marshall

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at this meeting the butchers protested bitterly against this arrangement, and does he not think that a city of this importance is entitled to have a meat controller of its own, and not have to go 40 miles to Leeds?

Mr. Morrison

We have to choose some place in which to have the meat controller for the area, and in Leeds there are other organisations with which it is very desirable that the meat controller should be associated in the regional organisation. I think the present arrangement does have regard to Sheffield's importance.

Sir H. Williams

Does not my right hon. Friend think it would be better if there were no meat controllers?

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