Meat (Hansard, 25 February 1952)

§ 4. Mr. George Jeger
asked the Minister of Food when the present meat agreement with the Argentine expires; and what steps he is taking to seek to renew it and to ensure a continuous supply of meat to this country.

§ Major Lloyd George
The period within which the quantities of meat specified in the current Protocol were to be delivered ends on 23rd April. The question of new arrangements is under consideration, but I cannot make a statement at present.

§ Mr. Jeger
Does the Minister propose to initiate discussions on behalf of the Ministry or propose to leave the market open to private enterprise traders who, we understand, can flood the country with meat if only the Minister will give them the opportunity?

§ Major Lloyd George
I am sure the hon. Gentleman appreciates that the arrangements which have to be discussed before 23rd April cover a great many other commodities than meat.

§ Mr. E. Shinwell
Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman really believe that private enterprise can persuade Peron to send meat to this country?

§ Major Lloyd George
I am certain that what private enterprise did in the past it will do again.

§ Mr. Anthony Greenwood
Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that President Peron has said that he would welcome a resumption of private enterprise buying because the Argentine would get higher prices for meat?

§ 23. Mr. Victor Yates
asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing in Birmingham over the quality of meat at present being distributed in the city; and if he will take steps to see that the quality is improved.

§ Major Lloyd George
No, Sir; Birmingham has had its proper share of best quality meat.

§ Mr. Yates
Is the Minister aware that considerable numbers of housewives in Birmingham are complaining that the quality of meat they are receiving is worse than they have ever experienced, especially some of the lamb, which is mutton, and the pork, which is quite uneatable and almost 90 per cent. of which is bad?

§ Major Lloyd George
There has been no general complaint received from Birmingham—none at all. I would point out that of the home-killed meat distributed a slightly higher proportion goes to Birmingham.

§ Mr. John Profumo
Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that this dissatisfaction exists not only in Birmingham, but all over the country—dissatisfaction which has not just started but which has continued the whole way through under the regime of the late Government?

§ 24. Mr. Arthur Lewis
asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on the domestic meat ration, in view of the 50,000 tons shortfall of supplies from the Argentine.

§ Major Lloyd George
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) on 4th February.

§ Mr. Lewis
In view of the claims of the so-called experts and of the Tory Party that private enterprise can buy meat cheaper and in greater quantity, will the Minister give an assurance that he will allow private enterprise to buy meat from the Argentine?

§ Major Lloyd George
Certainly, as soon as we can rectify the position created before we came into office.

§ Mr. Shinwell
How long does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman intend to take refuge for his inefficiency and complete inability to respond to the needs of housewives by making extravagant allegations against the late Government which he knows are untrue?

§ Major Lloyd George
The question now under discussion, meat, has nothing whatever to do with me because the protocol which was supposed to bring the meat in was signed by the late Government and does not expire until the end of April.

§ Mr. Shinwell
Were we not told during the General Election, and have we not been told since by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman and his new political friends, that they could do better than the late Government, and when are they going to do so?

§ Major Lloyd George
I will repeat with the greatest pleasure the statement that we can do better than the last Government, but I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to have a little patience.

§ Mr. Lewis
Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give an assurance that when this contract ends he will allow private enterprise to buy the meat if they can do it better and cheaper?

§ Major Lloyd George
I will make the same observation to the hon. Gentleman as I made to his right hon. Friend, and that is to have patience.

§ 35. Mrs. Jean Mann
asked the Minister of Food when the present meat ration will be increased.

§ Major Lloyd George
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) on Monday, 4th February.

§ Mrs. Mann
But does the Minister realise that that reply is no reply at all, that the meat ration is far too small, and that housewives are waiting for an increased ration? Does he really rely on the Argentine agreement only? Where are all the men who were to scour the world looking round for meat?

§ Major Lloyd George
At this time of the year Argentine supplies are of great importance to this country and—

§ Mrs. Mann
Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman rely on the Argentine?

§ Major Lloyd George
At this time of the year. We cannot avoid that very well, because at this time those supplies are coming in. The fact is that, low as the ration may be, it is substantially higher than it was this time last year.

§ Mrs. Mann
In view of all these replies of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will he consult his noble Friend in another place with a view to taking down the motto, above the door of the Ministry of Food, "We not only cope: we care"? Will he have it removed immediately?

§ 36. Mr. Cyril Bence
asked the Minister of Food whom he has appointed to fill the existing vacancies on the buying commission for meat.

§ Major Lloyd George
As there is no buying commission for meat, I am not clear what the hon. Member has in mind.

§ Mr. Bence
Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman assure the House that when the commission is appointed to negotiate a new agreement he will appoint experienced meat traders to buy for the Ministry of Food and not allow these traders to go to the Argentine to negotiate for the private interests which they represent?

§ 37. Mr. Bence
asked the Minister of Food what quantity of deer meat has been imported from the Scandinavian countries since 25th October.

§ Major Lloyd George
Private imports of deer meat are not recorded separately in the official trade returns and I therefore cannot state what the quantity has been.

§ Mr. Bence
Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider including it in the meat rationing scheme, because venison is a particularly red meat?

§ Major Lloyd George
The total of all the imports of game mostly from Sweden, is only 60 tons, so it is hardly worth while.