§ 31. Mr. Shurmerasked the Minister of Food, in view of the fact that most factory canteens, some British restaurants and catering establishments in industrial centres will be closed for at least four days at Christmas, if he will consider an increase in the potato ration for that week, to householders.
§ Mr. StracheyI regret that supplies do not warrant this.
§ Mr. ShurmerIs the right hon. Gentleman aware, in view of the small allocation of potatoes for families, that these employees will be away from the canteen, thus making a serious drain upon the small allocation?
§ Mr. StracheyCertainly. I am afraid supplies simply do not make it possible.
§ Mr. DraysonIs the Minister aware that there are a large number of people unable to use the facilities of the canteens and will he consider increasing their potato ration during the Christmas period?
§ Mr. StracheyNo, Sir.
§ 34. Mr. T. Reidasked the Minister of Food if he has any information as to how far potatoes lose some of their nutriment value if peeled before being cooked.
§ Mr. StracheyIf potatoes are peeled before cooking they lose slightly more soluble nutrients than they do if they are cooked unpeeled. I am told that it is not possible to give a generally applicable figure for the size of these additional losses.
§ Dr. Barnett StrossIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that underneath the outer covering of potatoes there is a tiny amount of first-class protein which is inevitably wasted if the potato is peeled?
§ Mr. StracheyThat may be so.
§ 37. Mr. Ewartasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that a potato shortage is imminent in Sunderland due to supplies being drawn from already declining stocks; that farmers in the district are 766 declining to sell; and what steps are being taken to ensure a steady supply.
§ Mr. StracheyThe supply position has improved since the end of the spell of cold weather which interrupted loadings and I have arranged to send extra supplies into the district.
§ 73. Mr. Maclayasked the Minister of Food whether he is prepared to make adjustments in the potato rationing scheme, as applied to fish friers, to meet the needs of Scottish fish friers, who have been accustomed in the past to sell a much larger proportion of potatoes as a separate sale than is usual elsewhere and who, accordingly, will suffer disproportionate hardship under the existing scheme.
§ Mr. StracheyI am afraid that supplies will not permit it The practice mentioned is not limited to Scotland.
§ Mr. MaclayHas the Minister seriously considered representations sent to him on this subject from the Scottish Fish Friers' Federation; and has he any hope of meeting their wishes?
§ Mr. StracheyVery seriously, and from other fish friers' associations in England as well, but I am afraid we simply have not the potatoes to make a concession.
§ 93. Mr. Henry Straussasked the Minister of Food what weekly consumption of potatoes per person, before and after rationing, he assumed when he estimated the reduction at 70 calories per person per day, and the calorie value of potatoes at 16 per ounce.
§ Mr. StracheyIf the hon. and learned Member will carry out a simple mathematical calculation, he will find that I assumed an average reduction in the overall consumption of potatoes of 2 lb. per person per week.
§ Mr. StraussHow does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile that with the figures he gave to the House on 24th November, which were 5.6 lb. and 3.25 lb., respectively?
§ Mr. StracheyThe reconciliation lies in the overall consumption, as against the domestic consumption. Both are estimates, but the reduction will be, we suppose, about 2 lb. per head per week.
§ Mr. StraussDoes the Minister realise that that cannot be reconciled with the figures he gave to the House in the Debate?