HC Deb 11 April 1951 vol 486 cc1023-4
54 Mr. York

asked the Minister of Food (1) how many tons of beef were available for export from Kenya during 1950; how many tons his Department bought; and what is the present quantity on hoof now available for export;

(2) why beef is being exported from Kenya to the Belgian Congo instead of to the United Kingdom;

(3) what steps he has taken to discover the amount of beef available for export in Kenya; and what steps were taken in 1949 and 1950 to prepare for the export of beef from Kenya to the United Kingdom.

The Minister of Food (Mr. Maurice Webb)

My Department, in consultation with the Colonial Office and Ministry of Agriculture, has investigated the possibility of getting beef from Kenya. But until further progress is made in stamping out rinderpest, which is prevalent there, we could not import carcase beef from Kenya without risk of infection to our own livestock industry. I understand that about 500 tons of meat would have been available in 1950. There might be about 2,000 beasts in 1951. This meat is, however, only a seasonal surplus, and as soon as cold storage is available next year it may all be needed locally. Small quantities of fresh beef—about three tons a week—are being exported by air to the Belgian Congo because this does not require freezing facilities and because the regulations in the Congo about rinderpest permit this.

Mr. York

In congratulating the Minister on learning a good deal about this subject in the last month, may I ask him what facilities are available in Kenya, with his help or otherwise, for finding means of getting over the difficulty caused by rinderpest? Second, can he say what help he is giving to the Kenya Government in their export preparations?

Mr. Webb

Those are largely matters for the Colonial Office and the Kenya Government. I can say, however, that we are interested and happy to learn that they are setting up a freezer and cold storage plant, which is expected to be available by May, 1952, and that will help. On the other part of the Question, that is a matter for the Colonial Office.

Mr. York

Is it not rather extraordinary that, in our present meat situation, the European producers of prime beef in Kenya were unable to sell any of their cattle from June, 1950, to January, 1951, and will not the Minister take some serious action to try to get over the difficulties which he has mentioned?

Mr. Webb

Yes, Sir. In other parts of the world there was meat which I should like to have, but it would have to be brought in at risk to our own livestock. Obviously, we cannot take rash actions of that sort.

Mr. Hugh Fraser

Does the Minister's reply mean that none of the meat from the Bechuanaland cattle scheme will ever be available to the public here?

Mr. Webb

That is another question.