HC Deb 26 October 1953 vol 518 cc2431-4
40. Mr. Lewis

asked the Minister of Food for the latest available date, the total number of rations that have not been taken up, and arrange to have published in HANSARD details of the non-take-up of rations for each of the monthly ration periods as from January, 1953.

42. Mr. Willey

asked the Minister of Food, for the latest available period, the non-take-up of rationed foodstuffs, given separately for each foodstuff, and expressed as amounts, percentages and in number of rations.

55. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Minister of Food to what extent the present margarine ration is not being fully taken up by the public.

Dr. Hill

With permission I will circulate the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Lewis

Cannot the Minister answer the first part of my Question? Can he say whether the non-take-up of rations is now greater or less than it was 12 months ago?

Dr. Hill

The hon. Member will find the information he seeks in the very detailed reply that will appear in the OFFICIAL REPORT. It is important to bear in mind that a lower take-up may naturally follow a higher ration and that a high non-take-up can be a measure of increased supplies leading to de-rationing.

Mr. Willey

While we are awaiting these revealing figures, will not the hon. Gentleman agree that it is very anomalous that at a time when cold stores are bursting with bacon he has, in effect, reduced the ration to 4 oz.?

Dr. Hill

I do not agree that that is an accurate statement of the position.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say what is the sense of increasing the margarine ration by one ounce when, as is most probably the case, the figures which he is about to publish will show that the present margarine ration of four ounces is not being taken up?

Dr. Hill

The increased margarine is available, and it is a new doctrine that we should deliberately keep the ration lower than it need be.

Following is the information:

The following table shows for each ration period this year the extent to which deliveries of rationed foods to the trade fell short of the entitlement and, as an arithmetical calculation, the number of rations which the shortfall represents. In addition to the ration requirements of consumers, the entitlement includes the requirements of catering establishments and institutions, and, in the case of meat, the butchers' manufacturing allowance which are not separately distinguishable. None-take-up of domestic rations cannot be isolated.
UNDER-DELIVERIES OF RATIONED FOODS IN 1953
NOTE: The symbol + indicates deliveries in excess of entitlement on the four-weekly basis.
Four-week Period ended BACON (a) MEAT BUTTER MARGARINE COOKING FAT CHEESE
'000 tons Per cent. Equivalent rations million '000 tons Per cent. Equivalent rations million '000 tons Per cent. Equivalent rations million '000 tons Per cent. Equivalent rations million '000 tons Per cent. Equivalent rations million '000 tons Per cent. Equivalent rations million
24th January … 5.4 15 7.9 0.9 1 0.6 0.7 4 2.1 1.7 6 3.8 1.3 9 5.6 0.1 1 0.5
21st February … 2.3 7 4.2 0.3 — 0.2 0.4 2 1.3 1.5 6 3.4 1.1 8 4.6 + 0.6 + 5 + 3.0
21st March … 4.2 11 6.1 0.6 1 0.4 — — — 0.6 2 1.3 0.4 3 1.9 0.1 1 0.4
18th April … 4.6 12 6.8 +0.5 +1 +0.3 0.1 1 0.3 0.9 3 2.0 1.0 7 4.2 0.3 2 1.4
16th May … 6.3 16 9.2 0.4 1 0.3 0.2 1 0.7 + 0.9 + 3 + 1.9 0.4 3 1.6 + 0.4 + 3 + 2.2
13th June … 6.6 17 9.6 0.9 1 0.5 0.3 1 0.8 5.4 15 9.5 1.5 11 6.4 0.5 3 1.9
11th July … 6.9 18 10.1 12.0 10 6.1 0.3 1 0.7 1.3 5 2.9 1.9 14 8.4 0.5 3 2.2
8th August … 8.3 21 12.1 6.5 5 3.2 1.2 5 2.6 3.2 12 7.1 3.0 22 12.8 1.2 8 5.0
5th September … 4.3 11 6.2 3.6 3 1.8 +0.3 + 1 + 0.7 + 0.8 + 3+ 1.8 +0.5 +4 + 2.2 3.2 21 13.4
3rd October (provisional) 1.8 5 2.7 +4.0 + 3 + 2.0 1.8 7 3.9 6.0 22 13.3 4.5 34 19.5 1.3: 11 7.4