HC Deb 20 October 1952 vol 505 cc690-1
36. Mr. Bence

asked the Minister of Food what steps he is taking to ensure that food allocated to retailers on the basis of registered customers, goes to those customers.

Major Lloyd George

Fair distribution of allocated foods among the retailer's customers is left to his good sense, which is usually reliable.

Mr. Bence

Is the Minister aware that there is a growing conviction among housewives of all sections of the community that with certain perishable foods like butter, bacon and meat, the amount of these commodities that the housewife can get is based rather upon the amount of money in her purse rather than on the number of ration books in her bag? Is he further aware that the satisfaction which he expressed a little while ago, which came to him from housewives of a certain section of the community, is at the expense of the lower income group?

Major Lloyd George

That is an extremely unfortunate statement. (HON. MEMBERS: "It is true.") In answer to a Question last July I issued a detailed table of the take-up of the rations, which is the only method by which the figures can be ascertained. If the hon. Member would do me the favour of going to the Library to look at a copy he would find that the take-up this year is in some cases greater than last year.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Can the Minister explain how it is that some retailers in certain parts of the country are quite legitimately, apparently, able to sell to their registered customers four, six or a dozen eggs per week over and above the normal ration?

Major Lloyd George

If the hon. and gallant Member knows about that, it is his duty to report it. On the other hand, the allocation, which is an average of two for the year, may in one period be only one or, in some areas, none at all, but in other periods it may be three. It is not two every week, two is the average over the whole year.

Mr. Baldwin

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that some of the eggs which are being sold freely are ducks eggs, which are not under control?

Mr. Bence

Is the Minister aware that many retailers—meat retailers in particullar—are compelled at the end of the week either to hold the meat without storage capacity, to let it rot, or to sell it to people who can afford to buy it?