HC Deb 02 November 1949 vol 469 cc397-8
49. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Food what increases he proposes to make in the price of meat.

The Minister of Food (Mr. Strachey)

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Eastern Norfolk (Brigadier Medlicott) on 31st October.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, arising out of that semi-audible answer—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] In deference to hon. Members opposite I withdraw the "semi." Can the right hon. Gentleman now give an assurance that there will be no increase in the price of meat before the general election?

Mr. Strachey

I have nothing to add to my former answer.

51. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the London area has received a smaller proportion of meat offal than the rest of the country during the last few weeks; and what steps he is taking to correct this disproportion.

Mr. Strachey

Yes, Sir. The diversion of home-killed meat and offal from London during the recent difficulties at Smithfield resulted in the proportion of offal issued in London being less than the proportion issued in the rest of the country, but the loss to the London consumer will be made up.

53. Commander Noble

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of meat is stored in the five refrigerated ships held by his Department at a monthly cost of £56,668.

Mr. Strachey

Eighteen thousand tons.

Commander Noble

Could the Minister say how long he thinks this large expenditure will go on?

Mr. Strachey

It depends on the rate of home killings and the rate of arrivals from overseas. The home killings, unfortunately, will fall off at the end of the year.

Mr. Hogg

Does the use of ships for this purpose at all reduce the capacity of the transport into this country?

Mr. Strachey

Yes, but I am glad to say that we have no shortage of refrigerated tonnage to bring us meat at the moment.

Mr. Baldwin

Is it not time that the distribution of meat was put through the normal channels of pre-war days when it was never necessary to have this expensive method of storage?

Sir David Robertson

Is it not a fact that this marine storage costs at least five times as much as storage in land stores?

Mr. Strachey

No, it is not as high an addition as that.

Sir D. Robertson

Can the Minister state how much per ton his Department pays for meat storage on land?

Mr. Strachey

The figures are 27s. on land and 62s. 6d. in these ships.