HC Deb 20 January 1953 vol 510 cc4-6
5. Miss Burton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the 1950 Report of the National Food Survey Committee, recently published, states that the difference in the amount of money spent on food each week between the well-to-do and poorer families is only a quarter of what is was before the war; and if he will give an assurance that steps taken by him to achieve an export surplus, as decided by the conference of Commonwealth Ministers in London, will reduce rather than increase this difference.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I have seen the statement in question, and welcome the narrowing of the pre-war gap between the food expenditure of the upper and lower income groups. This is a process which was, of course, set in train by the food policy of the war-time Coalition. I see no reason why any decisions taken by the Conference of Commonwealth Ministers should particularly influence the distribution of expenditure on food as between the different groups.

Miss Burton

Is the Chancellor aware that we on this side of the House are worried about the attitude of the Conservative Government and that this narrowing of the gap took place in 1950? Does the right hon. Gentleman not know that many people are unable to take up their butter, their meat, their bacon or their egg ration?

Sir H. Williams

On a point of order. How many times can an hon. Member repeat the same question in the form of a supplementary?

Mr. Speaker

It is not proper to repeat either speeches or questions unnecessarily, but it is difficult for the Chair to know what is going to be said until it has been said.

Mr. S. Silverman

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the narrowing of the gap between the amount of money spent by the well-to-do and by other people on food is due in the main to the policy of rationing, controlled prices and food subsidies, all of which the Government are undermining or withdrawing?

Mr. Butler

I would not accept such a sweeping generalisation as the hon. Member makes, and I would also draw attention to the fact that there is merit in this narrowing of the gap, as I stated in my answer to the Question. This narrowing arises from the realistic food policy adopted at the time by the wartime Coalition and carried on since. Turning to the observations of the hon. Lady, I would only say that we are far more worried about the attitude of the Socialist Opposition, and they are far more worried about divisions among themselves, than she is worried about the Conservative Government.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Simon.

Miss Burton

On a point of order. I was in the middle of a question when my hon. Friend the Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. S. Silverman) intervened with his question. Would you allow me to finish the question I was putting?

Mr. Speaker

I thought I had heard the hon. Lady's question before. if she has something new to ask, she had better ask it.

Miss Burton

I was interrupted in my introductory remarks. May I ask the Chancellor if he knows that we on this side of the House are quite united in our efforts to stop this constant bettering of the well-off sections of the community at the expense of the less well-off?

Mr. Butler

I can only say about that, without wishing to enter into any controversy with the hon. Lady, that the signs of the betterment of conditions generally are reflected in popular opinion and its support of the present Government.