54. Mr. Robertsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why stocks of meat in cold storage, in a town he knows of, were sent by rail and/or road to cold stores in a distant port, with the result that meat arriving there a few days later by ocean steamship could not be accommodated, and the stocks brought in by rail and/or road were re turned whence they came?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe incident to which my hon. Friend refers was very unusual. The ocean steamship in question had to be diverted at very short notice, for reasons beyond the control of my Department. If it had been possible to learn of this in good time, the necessary arrangements at the cold store could have been made, and the incident referred to would not have arisen.
Mr. RobertsonIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the owners of the steamship and the cold storage company were both aware of the situation?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI take it that they would be aware of the diversion after it had been ordered. The point is to know before the diversion has been ordered.
55. Mr. Robertsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why unnecessary risks are taken by his Department in hot weather in transferring cargoes of frozen produce from ports of entry to other towns when cold storage space is available at the ports?
Major Lloyd GeorgeSeveral considerations have to be taken into account, such as expected future arrivals and space available at the port and the need for dispersal for security reasons. I can assure my hon. Friend that no unnecessary risks of the kind to which he refers have been taken by my Department.
Mr. RobertsonIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that 7,000 tons of vacant cold storage space was available, and, as the weather was very hot at the 1952 time, was it not most unwise, having regard to the scarcity of food, to transport it at all?
Major Lloyd GeorgeMy hon. Friend must remember my difficulties in replying to questions about details. I do not think there was all that spare space at the particular time of arrival, but I would rather not try to deal with details.
56. Mr. Robertsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why frozen meat arriving in a town he knows of by rail and road in soft condition, was discharged into non- refrigerated barges and allowed to remain out of cold storage for several days; and why much, if not all, of this meat was not sent direct by rail and road to cold store, thus saving much-needed food brought from overseas?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe alternative method referred to has been tried, and had to be discontinued for reasons which I am satisfied are sound. The meat in question was discharged into insulated barges, and although some of it became soft none of it was lost.
Mr. RobertsonCould not the methods used by cold stores in peace-time have been resorted to, instead of having rail and road traffic, and going through a procedure as though the commodities had come into the river by sea?
Major Lloyd GeorgeMy information is that there had been serious road congestion. I am informed also that it is the practice in peace-time to take a lot of the meat to the cold stores in London by way of the river.