§ 20. Mr. Niall Macphersonasked the Minister of Food whether he will now modify the regulations under which the public is forbidden to allow the bacon ration to accumulate from week to week.
§ Mr. WebbPresent arrangements already provide that bacon coupons may be used one week in arrears, so that two weeks' supply can be bought at a time. I cannot, I am afraid, extend this arrangement, because to do so would involve the risk of poorer quality. To maintain quality and freshness, reserves should be kept as low as possible, and yet if a regular ration is to be maintained, a consistent demand is essential.
§ Mr. MacphersonIs it not reasonable to allow the ration to accumulate until it 1731 reaches perceptible dimensions, and would this not average out over a period? Does the Minister not think it worth while to buy in accordance with the needs of the consumers and to arrange accordingly?
§ Mr. WebbIt is very difficult to follow hon. Members opposite. They have just been condemning us for meat going bad. Here, we are trying to get some sort of balance between the two considerations. The present bacon ration is far from being imperceptible. [Laughter.] It is, on the whole, a quite adequate and reasonable allowance of bacon. I would not say that it was enough for all needs—I wish we could increase it—but to describe it as "imperceptible" is a gross travesty of the facts.