§ Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current annual cost to his Department of maintaining the stocks of basic items of food, emergency feeding equipment and grain handling and processing equipment referred to, respectively, in paragraphs 14, 15 and 16 of the annex, food and agriculture controls in war to Home Office circular No. ES 1/1979.
§ Mrs. FennerSection G of Class III,3 of the Supply Estimates 1983–84 contains the figures requested.
§ Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the arrangements for maintaining the stocks of basic items of food, emergency feeding equipment and grain handling and processing equipment referred to, respectively, in paragraphs 14, 15 and 16 of the annex, food and agriculture controls in war to Home Office circular No. ES 1/1979 in a condition which will permit their issue for immediate consumption or use.
§ Mrs. FennerYes. These items are regularly inspected and maintained as necessary.
§ Mr. Hunterasked The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make available for inspection specimens of the forms referred to in paragraph 21 of the annex, food and agriculture controls in war, to Home Office circular No. ES 1/1979.
§ Mrs. FennerTo release specimens of these forms would prejudice their security, and I do not therefore propose to make them available for inspection.
§ Mr. Hunterasked The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) why a period of many months after nuclear attack would, as indicated in paragraph 21 of the annex, food and agriculture in war, to Home Office circular No. ES 1/1979, be required before an adequate supply of food and effective means of processing and distribution became available throughout the United Kingdom;
(2) what he expects to be the state of affairs regarding the provision and distribution of food throughout the United Kingdom after nuclear attack during the period before the adequate supply of food and effective means of distribution referred to in paragraph 21 of the annex, food and agriculture in war, to Home Office circular No. ES 1/1979 became available all over the United Kingdom.
§ Mrs. FennerParagraph 21 of this circular to local authorities implies that after a nuclear attack it would be some time before the remaining food supplies and processing faciliities were available to all parts of the country. Until then it would not be possible to have a nationwide documentary food rationing scheme. In the interim period, local authorities would need to provide emergency feeding and control the issue of food to the local population.
§ Mr. Hunterasked The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now prepared to answer questions giving details of the quantity of foodstuffs and equipment held under the terms of paragraphs 14 to 16 of Home Office Circular No. ES 1/1979.
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§ Mrs. FennerNo. It is not the practice to give details of quantities of these items.