HC Deb 03 May 1954 vol 527 cc4-5W
26. Mr. Willey

asked the Minister of Food the non-take-up for the latest available period of rationed foodstuffs, given separately for each foodstuff, and expressed as amounts, as percentages and in number of rations.

Major Lloyd George

The following table shows the extent to which deliveries of rationed foods to the trade during each of the four weeks ended 20th March and 17th April, 1954, are estimated to have fallen short of entitlement, and, as an arithmetical calculation, the number of rations which the short-fall represents. The entitlement includes in addition to the rations of domestic consumers, the allowances to catering establishments and institutions. Non-take-up of domestic rations cannot be isolated.

will take steps to have submitted draft National Assistance amended Regulations to provide for the Board's scales of benefit to be increased, at least for applicants who are retired pensioners.

Mr. Peake

No. Under the statute, any revision of the rates of Assistance is in the first instance a matter for the Board.