HC Deb 10 April 1952 vol 498 cc2979-81
50. Mr. G. Brown

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total amount of feedingstuffs in the ration pool for the current ration year; the estimated amount to be distributed to domestic poultry keepers; and an estimate of the approximate addition to this necessary to enable a 25 per cent. bonus to be issued to members of domestic poultry keepers' clubs.

Sir T. Dugdale

The total quantity of feedingstuffs in the ration pool for Great Britain in the year ending 30th April, 1952, is 4.9 million tons, of which 93,000 tons is the estimated quantity distributed to domestic poultry keepers. In reply to the last part of the Question, the additional quantity required might be between 2,000 and 5,000 tons in the first year, according to the effect of such a bonus in increasing membership of domestic poultry clubs.

Mr. Brown

Does not the Minister think, in the light of those figures, that it is silly not to take this step, which would considerably raise the egg production of this country and ease our egg supply position? Does not he further think that the reply given to me last week by his hon. Friend, in which he referred to the commercial poultry keepers, leads folk to think that this is more protection for the commercial poultry keepers than for any other sensible purpose?

Sir T. Dugdale

I cannot agree with the right hon. Gentleman on that point. The real point here is that the total supply of feedingstuffs available does not admit of any increase in the rations for poultry at either commercial or domestic level.

Mr. Brown

Really, out of 4.9 million tons the extra 2,000 or 4,000 tons must be well within the margin of error on which the Department of the right hon. Gentleman already works. In fact, the difference between the number of domestic hen owners and the number we had at the peak period represents the rations of several million people every year. Since my wife is getting only two eggs per book at this time, which is supposed to be the flush period, ought we to refuse this very good and useful extra source?

Sir T. Dugdale

If I accepted what the right hon. Gentleman said, there is no doubt that all the domestic poultry keepers would expect to be treated alike.

Mr. Brown

They should join a club.

Sir T. Dugdale

I think the very strength of the poultry club movement, in which the right hon. Gentleman is so interested, must be based on trying to make the maximum use of household waste, and I do not feel I would be justified in authorising an increase of their ration at the expense of commercial poultry keepers.

52. Mr. G. Brown

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will now give further consideration to the feedingstuffs rationing schemes with a view to their simplification and the abolition of the present datum year basis.

Sir T. Dugdale

I am always ready to consider suggestions for a revised rationing scheme for feedingstuffs, but so far it has not proved possible to find a revised scheme which will neither dislocate production nor create more anomalies than it removes.

Mr. Brown

Is not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that everyone feels that the reduction of this datum line is by itself perhaps the most hampering barrier to increased production for specialist producers? Is he further aware that in every farming newspaper every week there are stories about the enormous black market developing in coupons? Does not he think that that suggests we have probably reached the point at which we could do away with feedingstuffs rationing?

Sir T. Dugdale

That raises a very large issue. I entirely agree with what the right hon. Gentleman has said as to the unsatisfactory nature of the present position. But I must remind him, and I think he will be aware of this, that the Feedingstuffs Advisory Committee have considered suggestions during the past few years for changing the basis of the ration but up to now have been unable to find any scheme which met with their approval. I have this point very much in mind, and if I could find a fair and equitable alternative I should be the first to change the present arrangement.

Mr. Brown

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman bear in mind there is some reason for thinking that the Feedingstuffs Advisory Committee might include what I might call "vested interests" in this matter and perhaps he needs to get advice from other quarters?

Sir T. Dugdale

I do not accept what the right hon. Gentleman has said, but I am prepared to consider suggestions on this subject from any quarter. If any hon. Member of this House has any suggestion, I will gladly look into it.

Mr. Crouch

May I ask why the right hon. Member for Belper (Mr. Brown) is so concerned about the feedingstuffs position today and how he comes to be so innocent of what is happening about feedingstuffs now that he has left the Department?