Milk Producers
56.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the number of producers of milk of tuberculin-tested and attested standard who sell to the Ministry of Food at 31st May, 1942, and 31st May, 1943, and the number of producer retailers of this quality milk on the same dates?
The estimated numbers of wholesale producers and producer-retailers of milk of tuberculin-tested and attested standard on 1st June, 1943, were 2,280 and 1,030 respectively. The corresponding figures for 1st June, 1942, were 2,190 and 1,110.
Can the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that his Department is undertaking the necessary research to find out all the statistics on the subject of T.T. milk produced?
We are doing our best.
Strawberries (Growers' Prices)
57.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food on what data the pre-emption price of 8¾d. per lb. for this year was arrived at for strawberries produced in North West Kent?
Growers' prices for strawberries were fixed by the Ministry on a national basis after consultation with a committee of the National Farmers' Union representing growers in the different producing areas, including North West Kent. Consideration was also given to estimates of the probable yield and of dates of maturity of the crop, and to the experience of the 1942 Order.
In view of the fact that the Minister of Agriculture stated in the House that he has no precise information on this matter, why does the Minister of Food insist in fixing pre-emption prices in this late season area below the cost of production, to the financial detriment of the small growers? It breaks their hearts.
We cannot do better than come to agreement with the National Farmers' Union in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture. In fact there is every reason to believe that the prices paid for strawberries this year were very satisfactory to the growers.
Did the Ministry get agreement with the Scottish growers, because there is a feeling that the prices to them were also unfair?
Not, I think, for strawberries.
Farm Sunday, Birmingham
59.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the i,000 volunteers taking part in the parade on Farm Sunday, in Birmingham, were prevented from having a drink because the application for 5 lbs. of tea and 9 lbs. of sugar made by the Warwickshire War Agricultural Executive Committee was refused; and why did he not make arrangements for a supply of the above?
It is the policy of my Noble Friend not to make additional supplies available for special functions, and he has not been able to depart from this policy in order to enable refreshments to be provided for those taking part in parades such as that mentioned by my hon. Friend.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that two days before Farm Sunday a mobile canteen was in the centre of Birmingham supplying hot drinks to a queue waiting for ration cards? Is he not able to supply drinks when he is intimately concerned with any particular problem?
Certainly, the arrangement should be that canteens provide drinks on these occasions, and usually arrangements are made to secure that mobile canteens provide what is necessary on occasions of this kind.
Seeing that there is always a plentiful supply of beer available, cannot the Department make tea available for those wanting it?
Tea can be supplied by catering establishments and canteens and arrangements are usually made for this to be done on such occasions.
Dried Egg Prices
60.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the names of the trade representatives who advised, or accepted on behalf of retailers, the scheme for the readjustment of dried egg prices?
Representatives of the following organisations concerned with retail distribution were consulted on the scheme for the readjustment of dried egg prices: The National Federation of Grocers and Provision Dealers' Associations, the Parliamentary Committee of the Co-operative Congress, the Retail Distributors' Association, the National Association of Multiple Grocers, and the Scottish Federation of Grocers' and Provision Merchants' Associations. The last-named body was not represented at the meeting but was consulted by telephone.
Do I take it that it was agreed that the loss should be borne by the retailers on the stocks they had in hand when the price was cut?
We had every reason to believe that the associations whose names I have read out agreed with the proposals made.
Soft Drinks
61.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the number of firms previously licensed by his Department for the manufacture of soft drinks and whose manufacture entails no consumption of sugar, who are adversely affected by the sugar content conditions imposed by Statutory Rule and Order No. 838 of 1943, and who will automatically be compelled to cease business?
62.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why the previous and pre-war manufacture of soft drinks containing sweetening agents other than sugar, or without any sweetening agent in the case of unsweetened squashes, is now prohibited?
63.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the number of persons or firms previously licensed to manufacture soft drinks and whose licences have been revoked in the month of June, 1943, who are consequently without any allocation of sugar, and who will now be prohibited to manufacture?
66.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps he is taking to make good the manufacture of the large gallonage of soft drinks that will cease to be made in consequence of the revocation of certain licences and the imposition of a sugar content through the revocation of certain licences and the imposition of a sugar content through the operation of S.R. & O. 838 of 1943; whether any increased allocations of sugar are to be made and, if so, to whom, to enable this shortage to be met?
As regards unsweetened squashes, my Noble Friend regrets that it has been found necessary to prohibit the retail sale of certain preparations of natural strength fruit juices because the limited supply of fruit juices now available has made it essential to ensure their even and general distribution. The other products referred to in these Questions are for the most part synthetic drinks which have come on to the market in the last two or three years as a result of the restrictions imposed on the production of genuine soft drinks owing to the reduced allocation of sugar for this purpose. In the case of 20 firms, all of which have entered the industry since the war, it has been established that they have no basic sugar usage and are therefore not entitled to an allocation of sugar. At present there are some 63 further firms about whose basic usage and consequent entitlement to a sugar allocation doubt exists. Inquiries are being made in these cases. Arrangements have been made to allocate sufficient sugar for soft drinks manufacture under the terms of the Soft Drinks Order, 1943, to produce an output equal to that available to the public in 1940–41.
Herrings And Kippers
64.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why even at the height of the fishing season, fresh herring and kippers are practically unobtainable in London and the Southern counties?
Owing to circumstances connected with the war the quantity of herrings landed is now very much less than in peace-time, and even during the height of the fishing season is considerably below the demand by consumers. The distribution of herrings and kippers is not controlled. Landings of herrings during the past fortnight have been below expectations, but I am informed that moderate supplies of both herrings and kippers have been received at Billingsgate.
Is not my hon. Friend aware that the failure to obtain herrings has caused great disappointment to many people who have come to care for them very much, and will he take steps with the transport companies to see that something is done to make them available occasionally in London and the south?
Herrings and kippers are not subject to control, and the trade can distribute them as they wish. The evidence before me shows that substantial quantities have arrived at Billingsgate in the last fortnight.
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that some fishmongers complain that they cannot get kippers for distribution to their customers, and does that not mean that the scheme is working adversely?
I have tried to explain that there is no scheme. Herrings and kippers are not controlled.
Is there not good reason for believing that they are going to hotels and are therefore not available in the shops?
Is it not far more serious that hardly more than a stray sardine ever reaches the Black country?
The Black country gets plenty of white fish.