HC Deb 12 December 1955 vol 547 cc816-7
42 and 43. Mrs. Butler

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many bottles of orange juice were issued by his Department for distribution from infant welfare and other local centres in each year from 1951 to the latest available date;

(2) how many bottles of cod liver oil were issued by his Department for distribution from infant welfare and other local centres in each year from 1951 to the latest available date.

Mr. Amory

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mrs. Butler

Is the Minister aware that in many areas mothers are finding difficulty in obtaining supplies of these essential welfare foods because the centres of distribution are widely dispersed, many are open only for a few hours daily, and it frequently happens that, when the centres are open, they have not the supplies available and the mothers are sent to other centres a considerable distance away to obtain them?

Mr. Amory

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health has primary responsibility for the administration of welfare foods, and I have no doubt that if the hon. Lady puts down a Question he will do his best to answer the point she raises.

Dr. Summerskill

I think my Question is within the right hon. Gentleman's province. Has the demand over the whole country decreased, and, if so, what action is he taking?

ISSUES OF CONCENTRATED ORANGE JUICE AND COD LIVER OIL
MILLIONS OF BOTTLES
Concentrated Orange Juice Cod Liver Oil
— England and Wales Scotland Great Britain England and Wales Scotland Great Britain
1951 … … 33.8 2.9 36.7 8.8 0.9 9.7
1952 … … 35.3 3.3 38.6 8.6 0.9 9.5
1953 … … 31.2 3.0 34.2 7.0 0.8 7.8
1954 … … 28.2 2.7 30.9 6.1 0.7 6.8
1955 (January to June). 13.8 0.7 (a) — 2.6 0.2 (a) —
(a) Figures for January-March only.
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