HC Deb 17 March 1947 vol 435 cc24-6
36. Mr. Mathers

asked the Minister of Food whether shaleminers are to participate in the improved food rations and other concessions which have been announced for miners.

Mr. Strachey

As the shaleminers, for the most part, live in areas which suffered from heavy prewar unemployment and a low general level of earnings, they will benefit from the increased allocations of foodstuffs to these areas.

37. Mr. Mathers

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the widely held opinion that the increased allocation of foodstuffs to mining areas should be directed to the households of those entitled to them instead of being given to bakers and others who cannot be expected to guarantee delivery exactly as intended; and if he will take steps to do this.

Mr. Strachey

The increased allocations of ingredients for manufactured foods to mining districts form part of the larger plan to provide a more equitable distribution to areas which suffered from heavy unemployment and a low general level of earnings before the war. The special rations of cheese, meat and bread do, of course, go to the Individual miners.

Mr. Mathers

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the best method of seeing his intention carried out—if it is his intention that the food should go into the homes of the men who are entitled to it—is to take steps to see that the womenfolk in the homes are given an opportunity of making their admirable contribution to the proper and economical use of the extra rations? He is not taking the proper way of ensuring the carrying out of his intention.

Mr. Strachey

I think it is a case of distinguishing between rationed foodstuffs and other foodstuffs in these cases. In the case I have mentioned, these ingredients for manufactured foods—more fat for frying, for instance—must go, in the nature of the thing, to the fried fish shops, and not to the individual home. The same is true of ingredients for cake making, and meat for manufactured meats. Ingredients for manufacture are not subject to individual rationing.

Mr. Beechman

Will the mining areas include the tin mining areas for this purpose?

Mr. Strachey

For this purpose, what is in question is not whether the area is a mining area, but whether it is an area in which there were heavy unemployment and low earnings before the war, and whether the previous datum line of distribution, based on what went there in 1939, did not give a fair share to that area; and whether such areas are not having their fair share of these ingredients.

Mr. Mathers

The Minister has missed the point. Does he not understand the claim I make—that the most economic and best way of making the best use of these ingredients, for the benefit of the men who are entitled to them, is to give them to their housewives, who are well equipped to make the best use of them?

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

If the reasons for these increased allocations are depressed conditions and low wages, why should not the agricultural labourer benefit to the same extent as the miners?

Mr. Speaker

That has nothing to do with this Question.

Mr. Walkden

In view of the fact that we are distributing extra meat and cheese to the miners, can the Minister tell us the technical reasons why cooking fat cannot be distributed to the miners' families as well as similar commodities which can be used at home to produce similar commodities to those produced by bakers, confectioners and fried fish sellers?

Mr. Strachey

Yes, Sir. It is quite possible, of course, to give a differential ration in any rationed commodity and that has been done in certain cases, such as meat and cheese to the miners. This was another additional scheme whereby the distribution of the ingredients of certain unrationed allocated foods was varied as between area and area, and agricultural workers who live in an area which was not in our view getting a fair share before will benefit by these increases with everyone else.

Mr. Walkden

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman why—

Mr. Speaker

Notice has been given and no further question can be asked.