§ Mr. HOLMESasked the Food Controller whether he is aware that the parishes of Creswell and Whitwell, in Derbyshire, received a consignment of meat for the week ending 26th April last which on arrival was condemned as bad; who was responsible for the meat being sent in such condition; whether the parishes of Creswell and Whitwell were entitled to an allocation of 9,714 lbs. of meat for the week ending 19th April and only received 8,911 lbs.; whether the neighbouring parishes of Barlborough and Clown were entitled to an allocation of 6,861 lbs. of meat for the week ending 26th April and only received 5,214 lbs.; and whether, having regard to tile fact that the inhabitants of these parishes are in the main miners who require a full ration of meat, he will see that the supply to the district is fully maintained in future?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe figures given by the hon. Member are not correct. The parishes of Creswell and Whitwell were entitled to a total allocation of 11,947 lbs. of meat in each of the two weeks in question, and the parishes of Barlborough and Clown to 10,714 lbs. During the period the basis of distribution throughout the area was 40 per cent. of home-killed and 60 per cent. of imported meat, and accordingly Creswell and Whitwell received 5,852 lbs.846W live-weight of home-fed stock, and Barlborough and Clown 4,298 lbs. live-weight of home-fed stock, these amounts representing the full proportion of home-produced meat to which the respective parishes were entitled. No imported meat, however, was ordered by either of the two butchers' associations for the week ending 19th April, and the Food Controller cannot accept any responsibility for the resulting shortages. The condition of imported meat consigned to Creswell and Whitwell for the week ending 26th April was entirely due to delay in transit from Nottingham, the meat arriving two days late at its destination. Upon the area meat agent being informed of the condition of the meat a further supply was at once sent off from Derby which arrived on the same day as it was dispatched.
§ Mr. RATCLIFFEasked the Food Controller why no distinction in price is made between the different qualities of sheep supplied by his presiding officers at the various marts, and why the distributor is obliged to take rams and old ewe sheep at the same price per pound as the best wethers: and whether he will see that in future sheep are graded both in quality and price as was done before control took place, so that those who want cheaper kinds of mutton may be able to obtain it?
§ Mr. McCURDYWhen control was first undertaken the Food Controller was advised that the classification of sheep into different grades was a matter attended with very considerable difficulty in view of the necessity for fixing wholesale and retail prices. The possibility of dividing sheep into two grades is, however, now being considered.