Essential Foods (Take-up)

HC Deb 15 December 1952 vol 509 cc952-4

27. Mr. Willey

asked the Minister of Food what action he proposes to take, in view of the declining take-up of rationed and essential foodstuffs.

Major Lloyd George

As I have no evidence of any general decline in the consumption of such foods, the question does not arise.

Mr. Willey

Will the Minister reconsider the figures he has already revealed to the House? If he will stop confusing the take-up by retailers with the take-up by consumers he will see that there has been a decline due to the price.

Major Lloyd George

The hon. Gentleman amazes me sometimes; he was Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for a long time. The Question asked about the take-up figures, and I gave the take-up figures, based on exactly the same procedure as that followed by the hon. Gentleman's party when they were in office. When Questions are asked about consumers' take-up, we then get the figures from the Survey, which is the only possible method. The hon. Gentleman must take those figures, whether he likes them or not.

Mr. McAdden

Has my right hon. and gallant Friend had any representations made from the Co-operative societies about the enormous quantities of rationed foods that would be left on their hands if the allegation contained in the Question was substantiated by the facts?

Mr. Lewis

Is the Minister aware that, for some months past, over 16,000 dockers have been unemployed, and that they have been getting £4 8s. per week, or, less deductions, a net sum of £4 per week? Is he aware that they cannot possibly afford to buy bacon at 5s. 9d. per lb., and that many dockers' families cannot afford their basic rations?

Mr. Vane

Would my right hon. and gallant Friend give as wide a circulation to his answers as possible, other than simply through HANSARD, so that a wider public can see how feeble are these complaints?

Sir H. Williams

On a point of order. As this is the 20th Question based on the same alleged substance in fact—the failure to take up rations—is there no protection for the House against the same Question being repeated?

Mr. Speaker

They are different Questions,