HC Deb 04 May 1953 vol 515 cc20-1
28. Mr. Bowden

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that butchers are finding it difficult to assure the public that meat supplies are only sufficient to cover ration requirements and that there is no surplus; and if he will make a statement.

Major Lloyd George

I am not aware of any such difficulty, but I can confirm that issues of meat to butchers are no more than are required to supply their registered customers with their rations, together with small allowances for manufacture into sausages, etc.

Mr. Bowden

Is the Minister aware that butchers' associations are of the opinion that, resulting from statements in the national Press, the raid upon their meat supplies, and, in many cases, their forward issues, has been such as to cause a great deal of embarrassment?

Major Lloyd George

I rather gather from the hon. Gentleman's Question that there was an excess of meat, because the Question says— to assure the public that meat supplies are only sufficient to cover rationed requirements and that there is no surplus; Does that not imply that there is a surplus?

Mr. Bowden

Is the Minister aware that meat trade associations are disturbed by Press statements that there is an excess of meat? The public are clamouring for additional supplies and the butcher is not able to meet them?

Major Lloyd George

I could not possibly accept that. The hon. Gentleman's Question suggests to me that there is an excess.

Miss Lee

Is the Minister aware that the key to the mystery lies in the fact that the butchers in most working class areas are offering more than the ration to customers who can pay, and is not that a grave reflection on what is happening under the rising cost of living?

Major Lloyd George

That really is not in accordance with the facts. [HON. MEMBERS: "Yes."] I would only ask hon. Gentlemen opposite to read the two Questions on this matter, and judge for themselves whether they do not say exactly the opposite.

31. Mr. W. R. Williams

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the concern felt by meat traders in the Manchester district at their inability to meet the ration on the current issues of meat; and what action he proposes to take.

Major Lloyd George

I am satisfied that this district has received sufficient meat of all types to supply everyone with their ration.

Mr. Williams

Will the Minister have a look at this matter again, because I am quite satisfied, from information given to me, that many of these butchers are quite unable, owing to the excessive amount of fat in the meat which they have been allocated, to meet their commitments to their customers?

Major Lloyd George

I know the difficulties in this case, and I have referred to them already. It concerns the Manchester area. This situation is due to the weighty pork brought in last week, and I think that the matter can be settled.