HC Deb 21 November 1949 vol 470 cc13-5
23. Mr. Collins

asked the Minister of Food to state, as a percentage of the estimated 1938 figure, the total consumption, allowing for the increased ration scales, of fats, eggs, cheese, milk, tea and bacon.

Mr. Strachey

I cannot give reliable figures which make allowance for the recent increases in ration scales, but for the whole of 1949 we estimate that the consumption of the foods mentioned by my hon. Friend, expressed as a percentage of their pre-war consumption, is as follows: fats, 98 per cent.; eggs, 91 per cent.; cheese, 110 per cent.; bacon, 49 per cent.; tea, 87 per cent.; liquid milk, 157 per cent. These figures do not include, I repeat, the recently announced increases in the tea and bacon rations.

Mr. Collins

Apart from the reply which my right hon. Friend has given, can he say whether there is any food, other than meat, the total consumption of which is substantially less than before the war?

Mr. Strachey

I have already given the bacon figure, but I would like notice of that question. I cannot think of one on the spur of the moment.

24. Mr. Collins

asked the Minister of Food what, after allowing for increases recently announced, will be the total food consumption of this country, and the consumption per head of population, expressed as a percentage increase or decrease of the estimated 1938 figure.

Mr. Strachey

I cannot give the exact information asked for, but the latest calorie figure available, for the year ended last June, was 2,980 calories per head per day, which is not significantly different from the pre-war figure of 3,000 calories per head per day. The figures for the present rate of consumption, when they become available, may thus prove to be a significant number of calories above the pre-war figure.

Mr. Collins

Although my right hon. Friend did not deal with the part of the Question referring to the total food consumption of the country, does not his reply mean that the total consumption will in any case be substantially higher than before the war?

Mr. Strachey

Yes, certainly. I gave the per capita figure. As the total population has gone up, the total would be higher.

Mr. Hurd

As the Minister was asked about food consumption, could he take a wider basis than that given in his answer, which was in terms of calories? One gets plenty of calories in potatoes and carrots, but one does not thrive on them.

Mr. Strachey

That is quite a fair point, but it is impossible to add up food consumption figures in any other terms than calories. I agree that once one is up to these figures, the calories have a limited significance and that the variety and quality of the food come in as important factors.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

When taking so much credit for the increase in the total consumption, will the right hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends reflect that the population has increased?

Mr. Strachey

These were the per capita figures.

Mr. Ronald Chamberlain

Even if there is not much, difference in the total consumption, does not the Minister agree that the distribution is far more equitable than it was before the war?

Mr. Strachey

Far more.