HC Deb 05 July 1948 vol 453 cc8-10
17. Mr. George Ward

asked the Minister of Food whether he will allow the extra cheese ration to smallholders and their sons who work on the land themselves.

The Minister of Food (Mr. Strachey)

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Woodbridge (Mr. Hare) on 23rd June.

Mr. Ward

Will not the Minister admit that the constant refusal to treat these people fairly is due to prejudice against owners of any kind of property?

Mr. Strachey

No, Sir.

Major Tufton Beamish

Is the Minister fully aware that there have been a dozen or more Questions from both sides of the House over the last 12 months drawing constant attention to the inequalities of the present system and is it not really about time that he agreed to look into the whole question again?

Mr. Strachey

As it is a differential cheese ration, there must be inequality. That is the essence of the thing, but on the merits of this case—that it ought to be extended to farmers and their families—I cannot agree that they are the most necessitous classes in the country for extra food.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

While there may be a case for not giving this concession to larger farmers, surely there is no case for not giving it to those smallholders whose economic circumstances make them indistinguishable from agricultural workers?

Mr. Strachey

There is certainly substance in that, but there would be very great difficulty in drawing a line, in taking an acreage figure below and above which farmers would or would not be eligible.

Brigadier Medlicott

Is the Minister aware that there is a very great sense of injustice in this matter in the country and that there is a feeling that the line is being drawn between those who have and those who have not a powerful trade union to speak for them?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Arising out of the Minister's answer to my question, is it not clearly understood by his colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, who are smallholders and who are farmers?

Mr. Strachey

The only possible way would be on an acreage demarcation.

Mr. De La Bère

Why not do it, then?

Mr. Ward

In view of the unsatisfactory answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

30. Mr. Lambert

asked the Minister of Food whether he will change the qualifying conditions for the special cheese ration so that self-employed builders carrying out agricultural building and repairs, where canteens or other catering facilities are impracticable, qualify.

Mr. Strachey

I am afraid I cannot further extend the special cheese ration to self-employed builders.

Mr. Lambert

Is the Minister aware that the withholding of the cheese ration from this type of builder is making it extremely difficult to get repairs carried out on isolated farms?