HC Deb 06 May 1941 vol 371 cc689-90
42. Mr. Mathers

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether further consideration has been given to the organisation of the preservation and distribution of home-grown fruit; and whether he has any further statement to make?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Major Lloyd George)

Yes, Sir; further consideration has been given to the Co-operative Fruit Preserving Scheme in the light of the recent introduction of a form of rationing for preserves. My Noble Friend has now decided that all jam and canned fruit produced in these centres shall, in general, be sold to retailers, schools, hospitals, and institutions against permits issued to local food offices in proportion to their entitlement to supplies under the Preserves Minimum Share Scheme.

Mr. Mathers

Has the Minister taken into consideration the objection which house-wives have to being compelled to come into a co-operative scheme like this? They want to make their own jam. If last year's scheme broke down cannot the lessons learned then be taken to heart and the position improved upon?

Major Lloyd George

If it had not been for the introduction of the co-operative scheme last year any degree of breakdown there may have been would have been much worse. One of the reasons for the decision, which I have explained to the House before and which I am certain housewives will understand, is the present supply position as regards sugar. Last year we were in a better position to issue the thousands of tons of sugar required to meet the applications received, which were very much more than enough to produce all the jam which was made. The supply position at the present time unfortunately does not warrant such an issue being made this year. I am perfectly certain that when housewives realise that this is a scheme to enable us to preserve fruit and to prevent it from rotting we shall have a good response.

Lieut.-Colonel Acland-Troyte

Will not this decision result only in a great waste of fruit—because housewives are not going to take on this scheme?

Major Lloyd George

I am very sorry to hear that, and I do not see evidence of it. If housewives realise that the supply position is such that we cannot let them have the sugar individually, and we appeal to them to save the fruit of this country for the nation as a whole, I am certain they will respond.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Ronald Ross

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in the more remote parts of the country it is almost impossible to get soft fruit to the factories, and cannot some allowance of sugar be made, under supervision, to those who can deal with only small quantities of fruit?

Major Lloyd George

Where it is difficult to get to a centre, arrangements can be made for a group of people to co-operate to preserve the fruit co-operatively in their district with some responsible person in charge.

Captain Duncan

Will the women's institutes and others concerned take all the fruit offered by private growers?

Major Lloyd George

If one centre cannot do it there may well be other centres in a position to take it, and there are also the manufacturers themselves. We hope that arrangements will be made to see that all the fruit is collected.