HC Deb 19 June 1950 vol 476 cc834-5
4. Mr. Russell

asked the Minister of Food what difficulties are involved overseas in sending shipments of meat to this country partly chilled and partly frozen.

Mr. Webb

Chilled and frozen meat require quite different equipment and handling at all stages. We need large quantities of frozen meat to maintain a level ration. Although shippers can easily send all beef frozen, as they do at present, they could not ship chilled and frozen beef alternately to suit our varying needs at different times of the year. I fear that this is a problem which must await abundance of supplies before we can get a practical solution.

Mr. Russell

Is the Minister aware that the Parliamentary Secretary, I think on 22nd May, said there were certain difficulties overseas in shipping both? Will not these difficulties have to be overcome some time before we can resume shipments, and would it not be a good thing to get them out of the way now?

Mr. Webb

We cannot get them out of the way now, but we will, in time.

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