§ 9. Mr. Gibsonasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there are many complaints about the quality of meat which is being served in the London area; whether he will take steps to ensure that only meat of good quality is distributed on the ration; and whether he will cause a special inquiry to be made into 1414 the distribution of unsatisfactory and unpalatable meat in the South London area.
§ Mr. StracheyAll the meat distributed on the ration is of types regularly sold for domestic consumption before the war. Complaints are made from time to time by those who do not always receive the kind which they prefer. South London is receiving its fair share of all types of meat.
§ Mr. GibsonWill my right hon. Friend have another look at this if I send him some further correspondence which I have received recently?
§ Mr. StracheyCertainly.
§ Mr. SnaddenIs the Minister aware that complaints with regard to inferior meat are not confined to the London area? What happens to all the fat cattle that are sent weekly for sale from Scotland? Where do they go?
§ Mr. StracheyThe effect of a fixed price for meat is that poorer customers get their fair share of the better class meat, while the richer customers have to take some of the inferior meat.
§ Mr. RoyleWill my right hon. Friend accept my assurance that a lot of this meat which is being served on the ration —and I know something about it—is absolutely unsuitable and should be used for manufacturing purposes? Will my right hon. Friend take steps to tighten up the grading system in regard to meat?
§ Mr. StracheyI am afraid that if much of the meat which is used for the ration was used for manufacturing purposes the supplies today are such that the ration would have to be reduced.
§ 11. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Food why 147 lb. of hind quarter beef was delivered to Mr. J. Leonard, a butcher, of Broken Cross, Macclesfield, in such a condition that it was unfit to be served to customers; and what steps is he taking to prevent repetition of this incident.
§ Mr. StracheyThis hind quarter was. examined by two of our trade experts on the day on which Mr. Leonard complained, which was the fifth day after the meat was delivered to him. I am satisfied, on their report, that it was of good quality but needed trimming. Had Mr. Leonard 1415 followed the usual practice in such cases there would have been no grounds for complaint.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyDoes the Minister realise that Mr. Leonard has made numerous complaints in the past, and has been told to "get on with it"? Is he further aware that the meat in question, which was expected to give 170 rations, could only provide 100? Many cases are occurring all over the country, and will the right hon. Gentleman look into it and do something about it?
§ Mr. StracheyI have looked into the case. The two experts who examined the case were practical butchers who were perfectly satisfied that Mr. Leonard had had a fair allocation.
§ 23. Mr. Henry Whiteasked the Minister of Food in how many weeks during the last 12 his Department received complaints from butchers in the Clowne Rural District, maintaining that the meat allocated to them was of inferior quality, and only suitable for manufacturing purposes; whether he is satisfied that, during this period, the quality of the 10d. value of the meat ration was equal to the allocation elsewhere; and what action does he propose to take to see that registrations are met with wholesome supplies to the full ration value.
§ Mr. StracheyWe had complaints during two weeks of this period, but I am satisfied that the quality issued was similar to that issued elsewhere, and that it was wholesome and sufficient to meet the full value of the ration.
§ Mr. WhiteIs the Minister aware that again, only a fortnight ago, complaints were general in this particular area about the low standard and inferior quality of the meat supply?
§ Mr. StracheyThat may be so.