§ 13. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Food whether he will now secure rehabilitation of the meat sausages referred to in Statutory Instrument, 1951, No. 314, and restore the percentage meat contents applicable prior to 26th February, 1951; and whether he will now prohibit the inclusion of milk powder and whey in meat sausages.
§ Mr. F. Willeyas I have previously informed the House, it was at the request of the principal manufacturers that my right hon. Friend agreed to allow the restoration of the pre-war practice of including milk powder in certain meat products. The meat content of sausages may now be lowered to prescribed limits when a stated proportion of milk powder is included. For this purpose, milk powder does not include whey.
§ Mr. Nabarrodoes the Minister realise that this debilitation of the milk sausage only arises because he refuses to grant the manufacturers sufficient meat, and that the public are fed up with it? How much longer is the milk sausage—this ministerial monstrosity—to be allowed to continue? When shall we get a decent sausage?
§ Mr. WilleyThe rhetorical inaccuracies of the hon. Gentleman will not persuade me to frustrate the legitimate plans of manufacturers to revert, as far as possible, to the pre-war sausage.
Dr. Hillis it not desirable that on grounds of taste alone meat should resume its normal place in the sausage, bearing in 935 mind the excuse given by the hon. Gentleman that it was the shortage of meat which made the introduction of dairy products desirable?
§ Mr. Blackdoes not the hon. Gentleman agree that it is more important, in a matter of this sort, to have regard to the view of the consumer than to that of the manufacturers?
§ Mr. Willeyi believe that the principal manufacturers are better judges of the wishes of the consumer than is the hon. Gentleman.
§ Miss Irene Wardis not the Minister aware that, despite what he and the manufacturers may think, housewives think that the Ministry of Food is quite impossible over this matter?
§ Mr. Willeyi would point out to the hon. Lady that this is not compulsory; it is entirely discretionary. The manufacturers will look to their sales to see what effect it has upon them.
§ Mr. Nabarrowill the hon. Gentleman now tell the House when he proposes to revoke Statutory Instrument No. 314, which found its origin only when he claimed that meat was short? He promised to revoke it in due course. When does he intend to do so?
§ Mr. WilleyThe hon. Gentleman is misinformed. I gave no such promise. It is not my intention to interfere with the freedom of the manufacturers.