§ 56. Lady Tweedsmuirasked the Minister of Food the total stocks of canned meat held in reserve in the United Kingdom as compared to 1st January, 1948.
§ Dr. SummerskillI regret that it would not be in the public interest to give this information.
§ Lady TweedsmuirCan the right hon. Lady say whether she considers that the present stocks held are perfectly satisfactory?
§ Dr. SummerskillI am not prepared to commit myself, but I must remind the noble Lady that at this time in the Argentine we are negotiating for substantial supplies of canned meat. It would be quite wrong to give this information at the moment or even to answer her supplementary question.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeIf it is in order not to reveal details so as not to prejudice food negotiations, will the right hon. Lady say whether she is aware that negotiations in the Argentine could scarcely have gone worse even if the entire meat stocks had been disclosed?