§ 52. Mr. Evelyn Walkdenasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the success with which his Department has controlled the distribution of imported poultry and rabbits and of the marked economy in man-power and transport thereby effected, he will now reconsider his decision not to introduce a scheme for the controlled distribution of home-produced supplies?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Mr. Mabane)My hon. Friend will appreciate that the control of imported supplies of poultry and rabbits is a much simpler matter than the control of home-produced supplies which reach the market from a great number of individual producers. Nevertheless this matter has received most careful consideration. My Noble Friend has however reached the conclusion that, in view of the small total quantity of food involved and the limited man-power now available for new schemes of this kind, he would not be justified in proceeding along the lines of my hon. Friend's suggestion.
§ Mr. WalkdenIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that his Department has set up a most elaborate and efficient organisation to collect eggs? Cannot the same machine collect trapped rabbits and newly killed poultry and distribute them in the same way that they distribute the eggs? Is there any difficulty?
§ Mr. MabaneWe examined that and came to the conclusion that an organisation to perform those functions would be most costly and could not be linked up with the egg scheme.
§ Sir H. WilliamsIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the egg collecting scheme is very inefficient?
§ Mr. WalkdenDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that the absence of any control or organisation is leading to a gigantic black market?
§ Mr. MabaneI would not say that, in so far as improper sales are made, they are connected with this aspect of the matter.