§ 42. Mr. Spenceasked the Minister of Food which articles of food in our ration are to be cut to effect the saving of £12,000,000 per month in dollar purchases, forecast in August; and what is the anticipated saving in tonnage and in money for each article.
§ Dr. SummerskillFollowing is the information: The cuts to which the hon. Member refers were, as the Prime Minister stated in this House on 6th August, cuts in our future programme of purchases. The programme cuts for the major items of food are as follows:
Tons per Month. £ Wheat 81,000 1,800,000 Meat 18,000 3,800,000 Cheese 7,000 1,500,000 Dried Egg 1,500 1,200,000 Animal Fats 4,700 900,000 Bacon 1,700 300,000 Canned Meat 3,000 400,000 Canned Fish 2,500 400,000 £10,300,000 The remainder of the £12 million is made up by a number of smaller cuts affecting such foods as condensed milk, poultry, dried fruit, pulses, starch and coffee. Owing to the fact that our purchases of many of these items were committed some way ahead, the full effect of the cut in purchases will not be immediately reflected in imports.