HC Deb 31 March 1952 vol 498 cc1151-4
6. Mr. Donald Chapman

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider introducing regulations enforcing the display of price tags on meat in shops.

Major Lloyd George

I have asked representatives of the meat trade for their views on this matter.

Mr. Chapman

Will the Minister press this matter rather more energetically? Is he not even aware that women buying meat in the shops have great difficulty when prices change—as they are now about to change even more, with the reduction in the subsidies? Is he not aware that they have great difficulty in checking the price of a lump of meat on the counter with the list on the wall and making sure that they are being fairly treated about price? Will not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman press this matter with some vigour?

Major Lloyd George

I am most anxious to do all I can in this matter, but I would rather do it with co-operation than without it.

10. Mr. Cyril Bence

asked the Minister of Food if he is yet in a position to make a statement on the arrangements he is making for a mission to undertake discussions with the Argentine Government respecting future meat shipments.

24. Mr. Frederick Willey

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make a further statement on the progress of the negotiations about the procurement of meat from Argentina.

Major Lloyd George

No, Sir.

Mr. Bence

In view of the increasing shortage of meat, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give an undertaking that he will not keep the promise made during the General Election to send private traders out to scour the earth, competing one with another for a scarce commodity?

Mr. Willey

Cannot the right hon. and gallant Gentleman appreciate that we have no wish to embarrass him on this matter, and, unlike the late Opposition, no wish to be unhelpful; but will he not do his utmost to speed up these talks, because we are reaching the time when we should expect some progress to be reported?

Major Lloyd George

I will certainly do my best in the matter of time and I hope to improve on the performance of the late Administration, who took one year and 10 days over the last negotiations.

36. Brigadier Christopher Peto

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements he has made to purchase meat of any kind in Germany for import into this country for consumption here.

Major Lloyd George

I am always ready to consider offers of carcase meat from any source, but I am not aware that Germany has any exportable surplus at present.

Brigadier Peto

My Question asks whether my right hon. and gallant Friend has made any purchases of meat of any kind to date. He did not answer that part.

Major Lloyd George

I rather gathered that my hon. and gallant Friend asked what arrangements we have made. I am not aware that there is any exportable surplus at present. As a matter of fact, in the last 12 months Germany has been a considerable importer of meat from abroad.

Brigadier Peto

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that there is no meat rationing in Germany, and that the price compares very favourably with meat purchased in this country; and is he further aware that it might well be possible to increase meat production in that country by exporting from this country tractors or other mechanised vehicles?

37 and 38. Brigadier Peto

asked the Minister of Food (1) the total tonnage of frozen or chilled meat imported for, and consumed by, the British Army of the Rhine in 1951; and a similar figure which is his forecast for consumption by the British Army of the Rhine in 1952;

(2) whether he will purchase a considerable proportion of fresh meat locally for the British Army of the Rhine and, in consequence, divert some of the frozen or chilled imported meat for consumption in this country.

Major Lloyd George

During 1951, 5,402 tons of meat and offal were shipped direct from the exporting countries to Germany for the use of B.A.O.R.; during 1952 we expect about 7,900 tons to be so supplied. As regards the second Question, prices of meat in Germany are high and it is more economic to supply the British Army from meat which would otherwise come to the United Kingdom.

Brigadier Peto

Could my right hon. and gallant Friend give the difference in price which makes him say that prices are high? That was not my experience last week-end.

Major Lloyd George

It is a question of purchasing at the suppliers' prices and those prices are very much higher indeed—almost three times as high.

Forward to