§ Mr. A. C. Reedasked the Minister of Food (1) whether he is aware that the main supplies of meat last week-end for Exeter and district consisted of sheep carcases from Uruguay; that complete carcases only weighed from 13 lb. to 17 lb., and were nothing but skin and bone; that butchers were compelled to ask 9d. per lb. for this food, which equalled nearly 5s. per lb. for the actual meat sold; and whether he will take urgent steps to prevent a recurrence of this scandal;
(2), who was responsible for the purchase of the emaciated sheep carcases from Uruguay, distributed through Devon shire last week; who was responsible for inspecting them before purchase and shipment; who was responsible for the waste of ship-room in bringing forward such food; and will he see that these people are replaced immediately by others who understand the business?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonBefore the war there was, mainly in industrial areas in the United Kingdom, a demand for the lightweight joints of Uruguayan mutton and lamb. The arrangements made by the Ministry of Food for the purchase of meat from Uruguay provided for the purchase of meat of pre-war qualities. The meat was inspected by the quality surveyors appointed by the Ministry of Food and was passed as of the qualities normally shipped before the war. The situation to which my hon. Friend refers arose from the distribution of the carcases to areas not accustomed to receive them, and was due primarily to the temporary difficulties and dislocation caused by the recent exceptional weather conditions over the country as a whole.
§ Mr. Woodburnasked the Minister of Food what steps he is taking to relieve 434W the shortage of butcher meat in Stirlingshire and Clackmannanshire; and whether he will institute steps to assure an effective and equitable distribution of meat for all the areas of Scotland to prevent the breakdown of the scheme?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe recent temporary shortage of meat in Stirlingshire and Clackmannan which was due to the difficulty of moving livestock during the severe weather was made good immediately it was brought to the notice of the Ministry's local officers. Distribution will be improved as the registration of consumers with retail butchers is completed.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Windsor-Cliveasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the present arrangements have resulted in very inadequate supplies of meat being delivered at Bridgnorth, thus causing great inconvenience to the inhabitants and unemployment among those engaged in the meat trade there; and what steps he proposes to take in order to remedy this state of affairs?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe present arrangements for distributing meat in Bridgnorth have not resulted in inadequate supplies being available. Owing to extremely bad weather conditions some delay was experienced in forwarding supplies of imported meat to the district during the early part of last week but additional slaughterings of home produced fatstock were immediately undertaken and Bridgnorth butchers were able to obtain a full allocation of meat by the end of the week.
§ Mr. Saltasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that, since 15th January, 1940, when his Department assumed control of meat and the purchase of fat stock, no inspection of animals or meat is being carried out at certain centres, while at others much sound meat is being needlessly condemned; and, since the public health is on the one hand endangered, and a gross waste of human food and public money is occurring on the other, will he say what measures to correct these irregularities he proposes to institute?
§ Mr. MorrisonSo far as I am aware, there has been no change in the inspection of animals prior to slaughter. As regards the inspection of meat, a joint circular has been issued to all local authorities in England and Wales by the Ministry of 435W Health and the Ministry of Food, emphasising my desire to have the benefit of the statutory meat inspection services already provided by local authorities. It is hoped shortly to issue a similar circular to local authorities in Scotland. As regards the latter part of the Question, I have by the helpful co-operation of the Corporation of the City of London, appointed Mr. L. B. A. Grace, M.R.C.V.S., D.V.S.M., Chief Veterinary Officer of the Corporation, to be Technical Adviser to the Ministry on the Health Inspection of Meat.
§ Mr. Mainwaringasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the amount of the commission agreed to between the Ministry of Food and the wholesale meat supply associations to meet expenses and remuneration during the provisional first three months period?
§ Mr. MorrisonCommission will be paid to wholesale meat supply associations at a percentage of their turnover based on a national figure of £70 per ton of meat handled. The total amount to be paid cannot, therefore, be stated until the end of the period. For the initial period the rate of commission has been fixed provisionally at 4 per cent. in the case of the provincial associations; that for London has not yet been finally fixed.
§ Mr. Mainwaringasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the estimated meat consumption of the population of Great Britain upon the basis of the present proposed rationed quantities?
§ Mr. MorrisonIf every consumer were to purchase rationed meat to the full amount of the ration which is to come into operation on 11th March, the total quantity of meat, including officials and manufactured meat products, which would be sold would amount to about 37,000 tons, per week. It is, however, certain that this maximum quantity will in practice not be purchased.