31. Mr. W. M. F. Vaneasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the large cattle population and exports of preserved meat from Madagascar; and whether he will investigate the possibility of drawing supplies for the United Kingdom from this source.
Dr. HillThis suggestion has already been acted upon, but I am sorry to say that we cannot regard the island as a promising source of meat for this country.
Mr. VaneIs my hon. Friend aware that while there is already a large head of cattle in the island, there is a lot of fertile land there which could carry a much larger head of improved cattle, and will he see whether something on the 15 lines suggested can be done for the benefit of this country?
§ Mr. Niall MacphersonIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is, and has been for a long time, a British firm established near Majunga, which used to export frozen meat to this country before the war? Cannot these exports now be resumed?
Dr. HillIt is not as simple as that. There was in 1950 an export of some 3,600 tons of beef and about 3,600 tons of canned meat, mainly to France. There was an export of some 1,700 head of cattle, but the quality of the meat presents difficulties.