HC Deb 02 December 1946 vol 431 cc3-5
4. Mr. Osborne

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the extra allocations of fruit and sugar for the manufacture of Christmas cakes require extra allocations of fats; and when these extra fat rations will be available.

Mr. Strachey

Of course we should like to give some extra fats as well but we simply cannot afford it.

Mr. Osborne

Is the Minister aware that there has been no lard allocation for the last eight weeks period? Is there no hope of it being made? Otherwise these two or three ingredients will be no use.

Mr. Strachey

I could not agree with that, but we cannot make a special issue of fats this Christmas.

6. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements have been made for an adequate supply of turkeys for the Christmas market from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire; what retail prices have been fixed; and what supplies does he estimate will be available in the shops and when.

Mr. Strachey

The maximum prices which have been prescribed for home-produced turkeys will, I have no doubt, be sufficient to ensure that all supplies available will be marketed for the Christmas trade. I am fixing higher maximum prices for turkeys from Eire than for other imported birds and I hope that these will attract good supplies from that country. I am circulating the maximum retail prices in the OFFICIAL REPORT. A minimum of 9,000 tons will be available and further substantial quantities are on their way principally from the Argentine, after being held up by the strike, and will, I hope, be here in time for Christmas.

Mr. Hughes

Can the Minister tell us how he proposes to prevent the public from being exploited by being charged the higher price for the cheaper turkeys?

Mr. Strachey

The chief difference will be that the cheaper imported turkeys will be frozen birds, and it should be possible to distinguish between them.

Mr. Osborne

Has the Minister any statement to make on the report that turkeys are coming from Poland? If so, how many and at what price?

Mr. Stracbey

We hope to get a small quantity from Poland, but, without notice, I cannot give the hon. Gentleman the exact figure.

Sir W. Smithers

Will they be earmarked?

Following are the retail prices:

The maximum retail prices for plucked turkeys are:

Turkeys produced in the United Kingdom—3s. 9d. to 3s. 11d. per lb. (according to the district in which they are sold).

Turkeys imported from Eire—3s. 6d. per lb.

Other imported turkeys—3s. 2d. per lb.

25. Mr. W. J. Brown

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider allowing old age pensioners an increased allowance of sugar in place of the special Christmas ration of sweets.

Mr. Strachey

I am sorry that I cannot adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. Old age pensioners may, of course, obtain the extra 1½ lb. of sugar for Christmas.

Mr. Brown

Is the Minister aware that to these old folks sweets are not very useful, but the extra sugar would be? Could he make it possible for them to make a choice?

Mr. Strachey

We were advised that sweets would be acceptable to old age pensioners. I would like to be able to give the option, but there are considerable administrative difficulties.

33. Mr. Wilfrid Roberts

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now state the prices to be paid for turkeys imported from Eire.

Mr. Strachey

The following maximum prices have been prescribed for plucked turkeys imported from Eire:

per lb.
s. d.
On a sale by a wholesaler to another wholesaler 3 0½
On a sale by a wholesaler to a retailer 3 1
On a sale by retail 3 6
The importing company in Great Britain will pay the exporting company in Eire 2d. per lb. less than the amount realised on a sale by a wholesaler to a retailer.

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