§ 34. Mr. Blackburnasked the Minister of Food whether, in connection with his recent announcement about an extra 5W allocation of meat for the manufacture of sausages for Christmas, he will state what arrangements are to be made to supply the manufacturers concerned with the necessary sausage casings.
§ Dr. SummerskillSausage casings are in short supply and I cannot guarantee that extra supplies will be available for the whole of the additional allocation of manufacturing meat for Christmas. The meat can however be readily used to make sausage meat and other products.
§ 35. Mr. Blackburnasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that whilst sausage casings can be obtained by manufacturers in this country direct from the United States at approximately 5s. per hundred yards, as much as 18s. to 20s. a hundred yards is being paid for such United States casings now imported into this country via the continent of Europe; and whether, in these circumstances, he will make arrangements to permit sausage manufacturers in this country to make limited purchases direct from the United States.
§ Dr. SummerskillNo sausage casings of United States origin are now being importedvia the Continent. Purchases of cases from the United States are severely restricted by the shortage of dollars but a very limited supply is coming in under special arrangements.