HC Deb 02 November 1949 vol 469 cc399-400
54. Air-Commodore Harvey

asked the Minister of Food if he will increase the ration of tea, sugar, meat and fats for Christmas week.

Mr. Strachey

I hope to make a statement in due course.

Air-Commodore Harvey

Why does not the right hon. Gentleman follow the example of the Netherlands which is today taking all its foodstuffs, except one, off the ration?

Mr. Strachey

That could easily be done, of course, if the price of foodstuffs was allowed to find its commercial level.

Mr. W. R. Williams

Would my right hon. Friend care to ask the Deputy-Leader of the Opposition whether it would be the policy of the party opposite to follow the suggestion of the hon. and gallant Member?

55. Air-Commodore Harvey

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on the supply of poultry which will be available this Christmas, giving a comparison with last year; and on what basis it will be allocated to retailers.

Mr. Strachey

It is too early to be precise but, so far as we can see at present, there should be rather more turkeys this Christmas than last and appreciably more of other types of poultry. We are still working out, together with the Association of Wholesale Distributors of Imported Poultry and Rabbits, Limited, the best way of distributing imported supplies this Christmas. There is no control over the distribution of home-produced poultry.

Air-Commodore Harvey

Is it not time the right hon. Gentleman got these facts together, and will he ensure that there is no repetition of what happened last year when much of the poultry and foodstuffs arrived after Christmas?

Mr. Nally

Will my right hon. Friend take precisely the same precautions to ensure that what has happened in the London area every year since 1945, whereby a number of leading hotels were buying their poultry on the black market, will not occur this year?

Mr. Strachey

I am glad to say that the price of poultry has been below, not above, the official price during recent weeks.