§ 42. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Food for the latest available period, the non-take-up of rationed foodstuffs, given separately for each foodstuff, and expressed both as percentages and in numbers of rations.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeAs the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. WilleyAs there is clearly a relationship between price and consumption, will the Minister give an assurance that there will be no further price increases this year in subsidised foods?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI do not altogether accept the hon. Gentleman's remarks, because where there is a larger non-take-up with a much larger ration the actual amount consumed is greater.
§ Mr. LewisWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman answer the latter part of the supplementary? Can we have a definite assurance that there will be no price increase in subsidised foods?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeIt is quite impossible for anybody to give a definite answer on that, and I pray in aid the experience of the hon. Gentleman's own Government.
Following is the information:The following table shows for the four week period ended 11th July the percentages by which deliveries of rationed foods to the trade fell short of the estimated ration entitlement. and the approximate number of rations represented by the shortfall:
| Percentage not taken up | Equivalent number of rations (million) | ||
| Bacon | … | 18 | 10.1 |
| Cooking fat/lard | … | 13 | 7.5 |
| Meat | … | 10 | 6.1 |
| Cheese | … | 9 | 5.5 |
| Margarine | … | 5 | 2.9 |
| Butter | … | 2 | 1.2 |
| Sugar | … | 0 | 0 |