Meat

HC Deb 23 April 1951 vol 487 cc9-11

10 and 11. Mr. David Renton

asked the Minister of Food (1) what percentage of the carcase meat consumed in Great Britain during the latest period of 12 months for which figures are available, was supplied to canteens; and what percentage of the population are estimated to have consumed that allocation of carcase meat;

(2) what percentage of the carcase meat consumed in Great Britain during the latest period of 12 months for which figures are available, was supplied to hotels, restaurants and clubs; and what percentage of the population are estimated to have consumed that allocation of carcase meat.

Mr. F. Willey

Of the total quantity of ration quality carcase meat consumed during 1950 it is estimated that 3.9 per cent. was supplied to industrial canteens, 3.6 per cent. to school canteens, and 4.4 per cent. to hotels, restaurants and clubs. I am afraid it is not possible to make the estimate asked for in the second part of the Questions.

Mr. Renton

If it is not possible to make that estimate, how can the hon. Gentleman and his Department possibly tell whether or not canteens, hotels and restaurants are getting more or less than their fair share and whether or not the men who produce the meat—the agricultural workers—could get some more instead?

Mr. Willey

We could estimate the number of main meals supplied in these establishments but it is impossible to estimate precisely the number of people who enjoy these facilities.

12. Mr. Wood

asked the Minister of Food what are the comparative quantities of meat available to a child, including the benefit of school meals, and to a diabetic, respectively.

Mr. F. Willey

Five school meals plus the present domestic ration would provide a child of five years or over with 23 pennyworth of meat a week. Diabetics get three rations at present amounting to 2s. 6d. a week.

Mr. Wood

Will the Minister reconsider the question of this very small ration for diabetics, bearing in mind the extremely small number of people concerned and the greatest possible need of their having more meat?

Mr. Willey

In these matters we act on the advice given to us by our medical advisers.

22. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Food if, in forecasting a rise in the weekly meat ration to 1s. 8d. in August, he took into consideration the desirability of reserving in cold store for use late in the winter some of the peak production of beef and lamb fattened during the summer grazing season.

Mr. F. Willey

For technical reasons it would not be practicable for us to do this on a scale which would make any worthwhile addition to our reserves.

Mr. Hurd

Is there not the technical possibility of keeping back some home-killed meat in cold store, averaging out the supplies so that we do not run into another 8d. meat ration next winter?

Mr. Willey

We have looked into this matter carefully. Our cold storage capacity is not designed to freeze meat, and to provide two or three thousand tons of meat a week a cold storage capacity of 65,000 tons would be necessary.

Commander Noble

How was the right hon. Gentleman able to make his forecast for August when he told the House last week that he never knew how much home-killed meat would be available until nine days before the week in which it was to be issued?

Mr. Snadden

Is it not absurd to have a glut of meat from our home pastures in the middle of a meat famine? Will the hon. Gentleman not reconsider the matter of cold storage?

Mr. Willey

The main problem is not so much conserving our home killed supplies but of seeing that they are as widely spread as possible so that we can use cold storage space to store the imported meat.

24. Mr. John Foster

asked the Minister of Food why he has not imported camel meat which is available in the Near and Middle East, to supplement the whale, reindeer and beaver meats now being imported to vary the meat ration.

Mr. F. Willey

None of these meats is included in the meat ration, and the hon. and learned Member must rely upon private traders to satisfy his tastes.

Mr. Foster

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that if the Socialist Government have the hump camel meat makes an excellent diet?