§ 80. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Food whether, as the old age pensioners and the lower-paid sections of the population cannot now afford to take up their full rations of meat and bacon due to the high price of these commodities, he will consult the Chancellor of the Exchequer in order to restore the food subsidies on these basic foods.
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Dr. HillNo. As rations grow larger, and as an ever-increasing range of unrationed food is offered, the average take-up naturally tends to fall. If it were not so, rationing could go on indefinitely, which may be what the hon. Member has in mind.
§ 81. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Food if he will appoint an independent committee to inquire into the operation of food rationing and to ascertain whether meat and bacon is being fairly and evenly distributed to all sections of the population or whether the non take-up of these commodities is due to the fact that the prices are so high that the lower paid sections of the population cannot afford them.