HL Deb 08 July 1953 vol 183 c355

2.51 p.m.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the reluctance of many people to accept pork as part of their meat ration, they will take pork off the ration and make it available, free of subsidy and free of price control, for the benefit of the many private consumers and caterers who would like to buy it.]

THE EARL OF ONSLOW

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Carrington I should like to say that to de-ration and de-control pork, or to make any piecemeal approach to the problem of de-rationing and de-controlling of meat, might well delay the attainment of Her Majesty's Government's aim to hand the meat trade back to private hands as soon as possible. Some pork, in common with other types of meat, can now be obtained off the ration where butchers hold supplies surplus to their ration requirements, but this arrangement will apply only for a limited period whilst meat supplies are heavy.