§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the Minister of Food the articles of food which are still
588W
Foods Controlled as to Price with Maximum Retail Prices. Great Britain. France. Belgium. Italy. Bread … per 4 lbs. — 1s. 4d. to 1s. 6d. 1s.5d. to 1s. 8½d. 1s. 5¼d. Milk … per qt. — 10½d. 10½d. — Cheese … per lb. 1s.8d. (Imported) — — 2s. 9½d. Butter … per 1b. 3s. (Imported) 5s. — 4s. 3½d. Margarine … per lb. — 2s. 1¾d. — — Potatoes … per 7 lbs. 1s.1½d. 1s. 0¼d. 6d. — Flour … per 7 1bs. — — — 2s. Sugar … per lb 10d. 1s. 1¾d. 8¾d. 1s. 8d. Rice … per 1b. 7d. (Burmah) — — 5¼d. Macaroni … per 1b" — 9½d. — 5¼d. Chocolate … per 1b." — 2s. 9½d 2s. 8¼d. — Eggs … per doz. — 4s. 1½d. — — Bacon (Streaky) per lb. 2s.4id. (Imported) — — — Meat … per 1b. Varies with cuts Varies with cuts Varies with cuts. — Apples … per 1b. 9d. — — — Wild Rabbits … per 1b. 8½d. (Imported) — — — Onions … per 1b. 4d. (Imported) — — — Fish … Jam … Varies according to kinds Dried Fruits … Cocoa Powder … The only articles rationed in Great Britain are Sugar (8-ozs. per week) and Imported Butter (1½-ozs. per week). controlled in Great Britain, France, Italy, and Belgium; what is the amount of the ration in each case where a ration is fixed; and what are the respective prices?
§ Mr. McCURDYFor the information of the hon. Member, a Table has been prepared, showing the articles controlled in Great Britain, France, Italy and Belgium respectively, and the maximum retail prices fixed. The absence of a price under the heading of a particular country shows that the article in question is not controlled as to price in that country. It will be noticed that no price is given for meat, the reason being that the retail prices vary with the cut and in some cases with the quality of the meat. Further, it should be borne in mind that in France a special allowance of bread can be obtained under certain conditions at a reduced price.
The retail prices ruling in foreign countries are converted at par, as any conversion at a current rate of exchange would prevent any comparison being made as to the cost of the particular food to the respective population served. In the case of certain foreign countries it has been found that the retail prices are not strictly adhered to.
589WIn France sugar is the only food rationed at present, the allowance being for the average population 17½ ozs. per month.
In Belgium sugar again is the only rationed food, the allowance being 2 1/5 lbs. per month.
In Italy, on the other hand, all, or nearly all, controlled articles are rationed, the ration being varied from time to time and being different for different districts in the country.
In Rome the rationed allowances for April are as follows:—
Rations per day. Rations per week. Bread 8¾ ozs. Butter 1 2/5 ozs. Other articles are rationed by the month as follows:—
Macaroni 4 lbs. 6 ½ ozs. Rice 1 lb. 1 lb. 1½ ozs. Sugar 1 lb. 1 ½ ozs. Oil 7 ⅛pt. Cheese 5 ¼ozs. In the Campagna flour for bread and maize flour are also subject to a ration, but in this case bread is omitted.