§ 44. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Food the estimated total tonnage of carcase meat required during the year 1953 from home, Dominion and foreign sources, to maintain rations and allocations for manufacturing and auxiliary purposes at the various proposed levels; what is the tonnage that is estimated to be an aggregate of meat required for the year to enable meat to be derationed; what is the net estimated shortage of meat to be met to facilitate derationing; what is the cost to his Department of maintaining meat rationing including all salaries and overheads; and whether he will now make a statement on meat supply prospects for the year 1953.
Dr. HillOn present estimates we expect to receive during 1953 about 1,850,000 tons of carcase meat and offal, which falls short by some 250,000 tons of pre-war supplies for a smaller population. How much more may be required to satisfy free public demand can only become known as we gain experience of rising supplies of meat and other foods. Meat control, including rationing but excluding general Ministry overheads, costs about £1,350,000 a year in salaries and wages. As regards the last part of the Question if estimates are fulfilled we should receive rather more meat in 1953 than in any year since the war.
§ Mr. NabarroDoes my hon. Friend realise that the note of optimism for the derationing of meat will be well noted in the country, and that every one is looking forward to the early part of next year when the figures that he has given 33 show reasonable opportunity for the derationing of meat and making further progress towards getting rid of his Ministry?