HC Deb 16 July 1952 vol 503 cc2128-9
17. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements are being made to reserve in cold store some of the extra heavy supplies of home-killed beef, lamb and pork that will be marketed this autumn.

Major Lloyd George

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. F. Willey) on Monday, 14th July.

Mr. Hurd

Could my right hon. and gallant Friend be a little more informative and tell us the extent of these tests which are being made and whether, in fact, beef and lamb will be included as well as pork?

Major Lloyd George

I think if my hon. Friend will look at the answer I have referred to he will see that it refers to experimental freezing which, of course, is a very important preliminary. As he will know, this country is not equipped for freezing on the scale of foreign importing countries. The extent of this experiment will be to see how far we can do the same thing here, and it will be undertaken in one of the slaughterhouses under my control.

Mr. T. Williams

How long will it be before it can be ascertained what are the results of this particular experiment?

Major Lloyd George

It will not be six years. However, this is the first time, I think, that this experiment has been conducted, and there is a lot of information to be gained. All I can say is that we shall do everything we can to obtain it as quickly as possible.

Mr. Williams

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in the six years immediately after the Coalition Government left office there was no need for freezing of meat at all?

Major Lloyd George

I wonder, then, why we still have rationing in these days?