§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from persons in the Stoke-on-Trent, North constituency about eligibility for free EC beef and butter; and what response he has made.
§ Mr. CurryMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has received a petition on behalf of the Bentilee Volunteers, Stoke-on-Trent seeking the inclusion of people in receipt of state pension, long-term invalidity benefit and unemployment benefit as eligible groups for the receipt of food under the EC surplus food scheme. The inclusion of such groups would reduce per capita allocations to 0.21 kg of butter and 0.18 kg of beef per year. To distribute such amounts would be impracticable and would be of little benefit.
§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will extend the rules for eligibility for persons to whom designated organisations may distribute free butter and beef to include pensioners.
§ Mr. CurryThose pensioners in receipt of income support or family credit or disability working allowance or who are homeless and destitute or living in welfare hostels are eligible for free food. To extend the scheme to all pensioners would reduce per capita annual allocations in the United Kingdom to approximately 0.24 kg of butter and 0.20 kg of beef per year. To distribute such amounts would be impracticable and would be of little benefit.