HC Deb 28 June 1948 vol 452 cc1825-6
39. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now consider taking plum jam off the ration in view of the large stocks of last season's jam which still remain unsold, and with a view to clearing the way for the new crop.

Mr. Strachey

If we could find any way of doing this which would not involve extra sugar, I should consider the hon. Member's suggestion very favourably.

Mr. De la Bère

May I ask the Minister why last season's stocks of jam should now go bad, or at any rate deteriorate very largely? Is it not possible to find a solution of this matter, and is he not aware that we are at the present time importing jam off the ration from abroad? Why do we allow the importation of what we could produce ourselves?

Mr. Strachey

I do not accept either of those implications.

Mr. De la Bère

Is it not the truth? I only deal with the truth.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Does the Minister's reply mean that there really will be jam tomorrow?