§ 5. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Food whether his rationing regulations provide for the declaration in writing by butchers of the quantity of meat not taken up by registered customers during each four-weekly ration period; and what are the penalties for giving false information.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeButchers are required to make such a statement; but as unused coupons for any week are valid for the following week, it must be in the nature of an estimate. Failure to make a return, or to make one known to be false, would be an offence, subject to the usual penalties for contravening Orders made under the Defence Regulations.
| 4-weekly period ended | Quantity under issue | Approximate retail value of under issue | Approximate number of full rations represented by under issue during each 4-weekly period | |
| tons | £ | |||
| 6th October, 1951 to 9th August, 1952 | … | Nil | — | — |
| 6th September, 1952 | … | 859 | 196,000 | 1,848,000 |
| 4th October, 1952 | … | 943 | 214,000 | 2,101,000 |
| 1st November, 1952 | … | 846 | 193,000 | 1,926,000 |
| 29th November, 1952 | … | 1,009 | 232,000 | 2,318,000 |
§ Mr. LewisHas the Minister any means of finding out whether butchers do not give this information, in order to safeguard their future allocations? Is he aware that there are many butchers who do not give the correct declaration, because they know that their allocation will be cut?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThat is not my information, and while it is an estimate. which is not easy to make, the butchers manage to even out the position very well with my officers.
§ 6. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Food, for each of the four-weekly ration periods from October, 1951, until the latest stated date, the declared non-take-up of meat in weight and money value per ration period; and the number of full rations that this represents in each case.
§ 16. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Food what is his latest estimate of the extent to which the meat ration is not being taken up; and what are the reasons for this.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing by how much deliveries of ration quality meat have been below entitlement, the retail value of such quantities and how many full rations each represents.
The amounts not taken up during the four ration periods to 20th November averaged rather less than 1 per cent. of total entitlement which is too small to be attributed to any particular reasons.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the difficulties and shortages mentioned in all these Questions can only be overcome if he takes off all controls both at home and abroad?
§ Following is the table:
941§ 10. Mr. Manuelasked the Minister of Food the tonnage and value of meat allocations to butchers in Scotland which was not purchased by ration book holders during the period when the ration stood at 2s. 2d.; and to how many full rations this was equivalent.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeSome 160 tons, worth about £37,300, were surrendered by butchers in Scotland. This represents approximately 345,000 rations over the four weeks, or 1.4 per cent. of the total ration issue.
§ Mr. ManuelWould not the Minister agree that the increased cost of living has driven many families into a position where they cannot take up their rations, and is not that in direct contradiction to the pledges given by many Conservative candidates at the General Election that they would decrease the cost of living?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI cannot think that the hon. Gentleman means all that, because in the first period to which the hon. Gentleman refers, when the ration was 2s. 2d, and very high, the non-take-up in Scotland was only 1.4 per cent., which hardly confirms what he said.
14. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there is public dissatisfaction with regard to the grading of meat and the prices charged: that there appears to be room for lower-grade meat to attract the price which is proper for the higher grades; and if he will discuss the matter with the trade organisation, with a view to protecting the public.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeFor the main types of meat our schedules already distinguish between first and second quality and between home-killed and imported. My Department is continuously in touch with the trade on this and other matters, but it is impracticable, under a rationing scheme, to carry fine distinctions beyond a certain point.
Miss WardIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that there is a lot of public dissatisfaction about this? Has he not had representations that occasionally—I do not say how often—people are charged for low-grade meat at the price of high-grade meat? Have there been any representations to his Department to that effect? If not, I shall be very glad to hear it.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI have a good deal of sympathy with my hon. Friend in this matter. Of course, when the trade was free there were many different categories which it would be impracticable to have under a central system with rationing. I certainly have received complaints from time to time, and I am in touch with the trade organisation to see what can be done.
§ Mr. RoyleIs the Minister aware that the grading of meat in the public abattoirs is unsatisfactory? Will he consider appointing the chairmen of the retail buying groups to the grading panels?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI should like to consider that question.
§ Mr. E. L. MallalieuQuite apart from the question of the grading of meat, is it not the fact that there is so little red meat available which causes dissatisfaction?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThere is a little more than last year.