HC Deb 19 March 1951 vol 485 cc229-30W
91. Sir T. Moore

asked the Minister of Food what is the calorific value of the 8d. meat ration.

Mr. F. Willey

This depends on the cut of meat purchased. It varies from about 240 calories to about 1,000.

96 and 97. Mr. Spence

asked the Minister of Food (1) which of his officials have power to issue supplementary permits to butchers who have insufficient meat to honour the demands of their registered customers; and what quantity of meat has been so issued since the 8d. carcase meat ration came into force;

(2) if he is aware of the increasing extent to which butchers have had to cut into their forward allocations and can still not meet the current week's meat ration; and if he will instruct his district meat agents to issue supplementary permits in such cases.

Mr. F. Willey

My right hon. Friend recognises the difficulty at present facing butchers, but we are helping them in the following ways. The value of a butcher's wholesale buying permit is increased by 5 per cent. to cover cutting losses; and as an additional concession, whilst the ration remains low, instructions have been issued that excessively fat beef or mutton should be trimmed before issue or alternatively an allowance made to the trader concerned. No Ministry officers have power to issue supplementary supplies of meat to butchers but the district meat agent may, in cases of emergency, authorise a forward issue which counts against the retailer's permit for the following week.

101. Sir T. Moore

asked the Minister of Food what instructions or guidance he has issued to the meat trade to assist butchers in the method by which they should cut up the present meat ration to ensure a fair proportion of meat being included.

Mr. F. Willey

None. This is a matter best left to individual traders.

Mr. Murray

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that butchers with the present meat ration are unable to supply their customers with their full amount unless they use some of the meat from the coming week's ration; and what action he proposes to take to remove this difficult situation.

Mr. Webb

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, West (Mr. Spence) today.