§ Mr. RATCLIFFEasked the Food Controller if he is aware that considerable quantities of South African, Manchurian, and Brazilian beef have recently been refused by the London retail butchers as unfit for their customers; whether such meat had been rejected by the Army as unfit for the troops; what amount of this class of meat has the Ministry still in stock or bought; what price has been paid for it; and who are the buyers who are responsible for the purchase of this class of meat?
§ Mr. G. ROBERTSI am aware that at a recent meeting of retail butchers in London a resolution was passed, protesting against the allocation of South African, Manchurian, and Brazilian beef. In fact, however, the only meat of the description which had been included in the compulsory allocation to retailers was South African. This meat had been purchased by the Board of Trade for the use of the Army, and was handed over to the Ministry of Food, since, owing to the reduction in the forces, it was not required for Army purposes. The quantity of South African meat in question was not more than 650 tons, and stocks are now practically exhausted. No Manchurian or Brazilian beef is at present being placed upon the market. I am unable to supply the information asked for in the last two parts of the question, since the meat to which the hon. Member refers was purchased not by the Ministry of Food but by the Board of Trade.