§ 81. Mr. D. Jonesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that for several weeks past there has been a considerable shortage on Tees-side of beef of good average quality, such as the Ministry of Transport regulations provide shall be supplied by ships' butchers for provisioning ships, and that consequently the ships' butchers in that area are unable to supply the needs of ships in the several ports requiring supplies of fresh meat; and what action he proposes to take to make good this deficiency.
§ Mr. GodberThe distribution of meat is a matter for the trade. As a result of inquiries, my right hon. Friend is informed that these difficulties arose because of a temporary shortage of frozen beef at the wholesale depot of the firm from which these ships' butchers normally draw their supplies. New supplies have now been received and there should be no further difficulty.