§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that there is a shortage of breakfast cereals, particularly porridge oats, in the city of Leicester; and if he will take steps to see that this city receives its correct quota.
§ Mr. StracheyThere is an unsatisfied demand for breakfast cereals and porridge oats in most parts of the country. As regards ready to eat breakfast cereals, I would refer my hon. Friend to the second part of the reply given on the 9th October to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Collins), of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. Porridge oats are distributed under the Points Rationing Scheme and I have no evidence that the city of Leicester is not receiving a fair share of available supplies. The normal flow of home-grown oats to oatmeal millers was delayed by adverse harvesting conditions, but oats are now being released to millers from Ministry stocks to supplement deliveries from farms, and increased supplies of porridge oats will shortly be available in all districts.