HC Deb 02 February 1949 vol 460 cc233-4W
60. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that under the revised system of allocating poultry and rabbits private butchers in Reading were left 1,000 turkeys short of their customers' requirements at Christmas while the shops of the Co-operative Society were able to offer turkeys freely to all comers; and what action he is taking to bring the allocation of poultry and rabbits more closely into line with customers' requirements.

Mr. Strachey

As the House knows, we have decided to decontrol poultry next summer. This will end anomalies of distribution real or alleged. Many private butchers do not qualify for an allocation under the present system, based on 1938 trade, which was modified in order to give a somewhat fairer share to customers of the Co-operative Societies. We shall soon be discussing with the trade the future basis of distribution for rabbits.

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