§ 58. Mr. Price-Whiteasked the Minister of Food, what is the storage capacity of the Government operated cold storage building at Cardiff Docks; and what tonnages were in store there on the following dates, 1st September, 1st October and 24th November this year.
§ Mr. StracheyThe storage capacity of the Government cold store at Cardiff Docks is 1,018,400 cubic feet. This represents approximately 7,400 tons capacity at present when meat is the principal commodity stored. The tonnages in store on the nearest Friday to the dates in the Question were: 2nd September, 7,498 tons; 30th September, 7,221 tons; 25th November, 7,164 tons.
§ Mr. Price-WhiteIn view of the figures the right hon. Gentleman has just given, does he not agree that the statement of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport on 24th November to the effect that these stores were half empty as a deliberate intention of an agreement entered into by Lord Woolton as Minister of Food, is somewhat less than accurate?
§ Mr. StracheyAt other dates in the course of the last few years this particular store has had very low tonnage in it. For example, on 4th March, 1949, it had 992 tons in it.
§ Mr. ParkinWhile this not unexpected answer to the rather limited Question will give satisfaction to those who are trying to laugh off the evidence of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee last year, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that the implications of this Report and the pledge will be borne in mind in framing future legislation?
§ Mr. StracheyYes, Sir.