Mr. Vaneasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the negligible quantities of British-grown soft fruits available 373W in shops in North-West England in 1946; and what steps he is proposing to take to ensure a fairer distribution of the 1947 crop.
§ Mr. StracheyTo maintain the jam ration, about half the soft fruit crop this year has had to be diverted for jam manufacture and the amount left for sale in the shops provided only just over a pound per head of the population. Owing to the high degree of perishability of soft fruit its distribution is not controlled and the Ministry is not in a position, therefore, to direct supplies to any particular area.