§ Mr. McKinlayasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the amount of rump steak allocated to the firm of J. P. Londen, 34, Spoutmouth, Glasgow, as a Group 1 manufacturer, for the production of boiled beef ham during the months of January and February, 1941; and who issued the instruction that such an allocation be made and the amount of such steak issued to the firm of John Gardner, Limited, Partick, Glasgow, during the same period?
Major Lloyd GeorgeNo rump steak has been allocated to the firm in question for any period for any purpose, but the following quantities of imported boneless meat have been supplied to The firm, as a Group 1 manufacturer, for the produc-1570W tion of boiled beef ham during the months of January and February: January 237½ cwts., February 170½ cwts. These allocations, except in so far as they comprise offsets against their deliveries in the preceding months, represent the same percentage of 1938 usage of the firm as is supplied in the case of beef or other Group 1 manufacturers throughout the country and these allocations were made on the instructions of the Ministry of Food. Allocations, of imported boneless beef for the production of boiled beef ham have now ceased in view of the meat supply position. No similar allocations have been made to the firm of John-Gardner, Limited, Partick, Glasgow, as that firm has not applied for allocations of meat as Group 1 manufacturers.
§ Mr. McKinlayasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minstry of Food whether he is aware that Messrs. Lewis Stores, in Glasgow, sold six tons of beef ham at their Glasgow store during the months of January and February, 1941, as against eight cwts. over the period November, December and January, 1938–39, and that keen resentment is felt by other traders in Glasgow who cannot get supplies; and will he take steps to reassure the public that no preference is being shown?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI am aware of the quantities of beef ham sold by Messrs. Lewis's Stores at their Glasgow store during the months in question, and attention has been drawn to the resentment felt by other traders in the city who cannot get supplies of this manufacturing meat product. The increase in the sales in question is not the result of any preference shown by the Ministry since the firm obtains its supplies not from the Ministry but from a manufacturer whose allocations of meat are strictly in accordance with the instructions laid down for allocations to manufacturers generally.