HC Deb 08 May 1967 vol 746 cc1056-7
37. Mr. Rankin

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will ensure that all foods supplied to the House of Commons are secured from animals reared under free range conditions.

Mr. Robert Maxwell

I have been asked to reply.

No, Sir. Although certain food purchased by the Refreshment Department is known to come from free range animals, to buy only such food would be very expensive and would probably result in large price increases, and in further increases in expenses already incurred by this Department.

Mr. Rankin

Is my hon. Friend aware that last Wednesday 2,600 hens were destroyed at Penrith by inspectors of the R.S.P.CA. because they had spent 12 months of unremitting egg-bearing and, as a result, were fit for nothing else, not even to be turned into chicken soup or chicken salad? Do I understand that my hon. Friend will supply that type of food to Members of the House of Commons and those who work in other Departments therein?

Mr. Maxwell

The Scotch beef and Scotch lamb at present readily supplied is of free-range origin.

Mr. Rankin

On a point of order—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will defer raising points of order to the end of Question time whenever he can.

Mr. Rankin

I do my best, Mr. Speaker. My point of order is this. Can you tell me how an answer to a question which was unknown until it was put can possibly be relevant to that question?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman knows that that is not a point of order.

Mr. Maxwell

Had my hon. Friend waited for the completion of my reply he would have realised that all chickens which we purchase are free range.

Mr. Rankin

Oh?

Mr. Maxwell

I am, naturally, sorry to learn what happened to the chickens to which my hon. Friend referred. As a general rule, no inquiries are made of suppliers along these lines when purchases are made. As I pointed out in my Answer, to follow a general policy of this nature would not be economic or necessary.

Mr. Tuck

If the House of Commons disapproves, as I hope it does, of factory farming, how can we expect people to act in a certain way if we ourselves do not set an example to those people?

Mr. Maxwell

That is another question.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Would the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Maxwell) explain to his hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin) the problems of buying free range haggis?

Mr. Maxwell

I would require notice of that question.

Several Hon. Members rose

—

Mr. Speaker

Order. We must get back to free range Questions.