§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that some wholesale grocers in Scotland had not on 10th December had full delivery of their butter requirements for the fortnight beginning 6th December and that they had only been supplied up to that date with 50 per cent. of the butter which they required for the fortnight beginning 20th December; and what steps it is proposed to take to ensure more reliable deliveries of butter throughout the trade.
§ Lieut. - Colonel Bromley - Davenportasked the Minister of Food to what extent there were delays in meeting delivery orders in butter in some parts of the country during the recent foggy weather; and to what extent this was due to inadequate stocks being carried.
246W
Imports 1946 1947 Tons Value £ Tons Value £ Commodity Barley 109,755 1,759,199 112,840 3,049,105 Oats 104,806 2,012,889 105,913 2,266,392 Maize 119,335 2,297,280 477,992 10,353,834 Miscellaneous feedingstuffs including by products 115,635 2,871,392 511,800 14,486,350 Re-Exports: Barley Germany 1,492 32,084 — — Netherlands 7,032 149,781 — — Oats Channel Islands 51 935 49 937 Gibraltar 60 1,024 50 830 Maize Channel Islands 51 536 42 488 Netherlands 2,958 50,879 — — Miscellaneous feedingstuffs Germany 1,536 76,795 — —
§ Mr. StracheyI am aware that there have been delays in the distribution of butter for the ration in Scotland as in a few other parts of the country. Normally at this time of year butter stocks, tend to fall off owing to the seasonality of supplies. Because of slowness of arrivals of overseas shipments and transport difficulties, which were accentuated by poor weather, the position was rather more difficult than usual this year and traders were notified that there would he unavoidable delays in meeting delivery orders for butter in some parts of the country. Supplies are now arriving in larger volume and wholesalers should be receiving their full entitlement. I have no reason to anticipate similar difficulties in the future.