HC Deb 19 February 1941 vol 369 cc149-50
41. Mr. Robertson

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why the meat ration has been varied so frequently and drastically; and whether his Department's stock books reveal, from day to day, a true record of actual stocks on hand available for distribution to the civil population?

Major Lloyd George

Supplies of both home-produced and imported meat inevitably fluctuate through the year. The size of the meat ration has been and will continue to be regulated from time to time in accordance with the supply position. There have been four changes in the meat ration since March, 1940, when meat rationing began. As regards the second part of the Question, the Ministry possesses full information regarding stocks of imported meat and the numbers of livestock in this country.

Mr. Robertson

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that officers of his Department are visiting cold stores and demanding delivery of several hundred tons of meat which were drawn out two or three months before for the Service Departments, and is it conceivable that the ration would have been juggled about as it has been within the space of two months if his records were correct?

Major Lloyd George

I cannot accept the hon. Gentleman's suggestion. There have been four changes, and it is far better to keep the meat ration flexible than to have it rigidly fixed, because if the situation improves the ration can be increased, which would be desirable. I can assure my hon. Friend that we have ample information at our disposal to tell us what the available stocks are.

42. Mr. Brooke

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will reconsider, with a view to a better gradation, the meat ration for a child, which is now 7d. a week from birth to the age of six, and is therefore excessive at the beginning of the period and barely adequate for many growing children at the end?

Major Lloyd George

My Noble Friend does not consider it necessary to change the present arrangement whereby a child who will attain the age of six years before the end of a six months rationing period is issued with an adult's ration book at the beginning of the period. The ration allowed in respect of an infant is intended to be used for the benefit of the nursing mother.

Mr. Brooke

Has my hon. and gallant Friend any medical support for the view that a child of six may eat twice as much meat as a child of five?

Major Lloyd George

I cannot say that, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that most things that we do are done after very good advice from medical sources.

Miss Rathbone

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that the fact that a housewife with a number of young children is able to get as much meat and milk for the children as for the adults is the only compensation which she gets for not having the time or money to have meals in restaurants, which causes her to be badly hit by the rationing arrangements?