Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that, in Lancashire, fish friers who used to sell cooked peas can no longer buy them in bulk, with the result that these are virtually unobtainable except in packages, which cost far more than can be passed on to the consumers; and what is the reason for this particular regulation which prejudicially affects the supply of cheap popular food?
Major Lloyd GeorgeImports of dried green and blue peas, which before the war formed the major portion of our total supplies of this food have been very drastically curtailed since the invasion of Holland and Belgium, and the closing of the Mediterranean, with the result that for some months there has been a unavoidable general shortage of this foodstuff. Supplies of home-grown peas have by directions of the Ministry of Food been offered by the pea-pickers to canners, packeters and wholesale grocers in quantities proportionate to their sales of the 1938 crop to each class of buyer but the supplies available, except for seed purposes, are nearly exhausted. It is hoped that a larger acreage will be planted for the crop of edible threshed peas this spring, and the Ministry is preparing plans for the equitable distribution of the crop when it is marketed.