§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food 2116W whether local committees or authorities are authorised to make Orders under which butchers may supply to any customer half the amount of meat purchased by the customer last October; and, if so, whether, seeing that the effect of such Order is to favour the person who was extravagant in meat last October as against the person who was patriotically economical, he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. CLYNESFood control committees have power to give directions to retail butchers as to the conduct of their business, so long as these directions do not conflict with Orders or Regulations made by the Food Controller. The present Regulations merely limit the amount of a butcher's purchases of cattle and meat in each week, and leave room for adjustment in sales to individual customers, pending the introduction of definite schemes of rationing. No doubt the effect of the Regulations is that in general customers are restricted to half the amount of their purchases in October last; but, as I have suggested, food control committees may give special consideration to cases such as those referred to by the hon. Member, with a view to meeting the reasonable requirements of those persons who have patriotically rationed themselves in the past.
§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the seizures of diseased tuberculous cow-beef recently made in Smithfield Market, lie will give the names of the persons who purchased these animals on behalf of his Department.; the price paid for the same; the places where. slaughtered; the total number slaughtered in Birkenhead and forwarded to London in each of the last three weeks, respectively; and the names of the persons who supervised the slaughtering and loading-of the dead meat?
§ Mr. CLYNESI am causing inquiries to be made, and will convey the information to the hon. Member as soon as it has been obtained.