§ 58. Mr. Laversasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that in Denmark there is an abundance of meat that cannot be sold; that cattle are being sent back to the farmers from the slaughter-houses and pigs from the bacon factories; and why he is not making this food available to our people rather than carrying meat 3,000 miles across the Atlantic.
§ Sir B. SmithAll the exportable surplus of meat in Denmark is being sent to other countries of Europe and to the British Army of the Rhine. At the present time, I am prepared to buy from Denmark all the bacon that can be shipped to the United Kingdom should other countries not wish to avail themselves of the quantities allocated to them Cattle have been returned to the farms 2326 because of Denmark's limited capacity for slaughtering and freezing. Arrangements are now being made, however, to export all the live cattle that cannot be slaughtered to France, Belgium, Czechoslovakia and other European countries as well as to Germany where they will be slaughtered and used for feeding displaced persons.
§ Miss RathboneIs the Minister aware that the latest information from Denmark is that they could export far larger quantities, but they are not yet being allowed to do it?
§ Sir B. SmithI am not stopping Denmark from exporting.