Oils And Fats (Imports)
51.
asked the Minister of Food, in view of the cut in the fats ration, how soon he expects to be able to import some quantity of olive oil from Italy, or soya, peanut or other oil from elsewhere.
I very much regret that there is no prospect of obtaining additional supplies of oils and fats during the next few months by importing supplies of the kind to which the hon. Member refers.
Fish
52.
asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the shortage of fish in the Liverpool and Merseyside area, he will take steps to see that there is an improvement in both supplies and quality.
I am having inquiries made, and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.
Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the position is also very disappointing in the Midlands, and will he exercise some pressure over the personnel in the Admiralty to obtain more trawlers, as soon as they can possibly be spared from naval service?
The Admiralty are giving up more trawlers. They could not give up a great number before victory in Europe had been achieved, but now we are getting some more.
Is not the question of transport a more potent one than that of supplies?
It boils down largely to a question of man-power at every stage of distribution, from the time the fish comes into the harbour until it is served on the fishmongers' slabs. We are going into all these matters.
Are we using German prisoners to deal with this matter?
Not yet.
53.
asked the Minister of Food for how long it is proposed to keep in operation the scheme for zoning fish.
So long as the transport and supply positions make it necessary, but no longer.
Catering Licences
54.
asked the Minister of Food whether it is a condition of the granting of a catering licence that the applicant should have been in similar business before the war or whether the policy is to give preference to such individuals; and how many licences, particularly in the ice-cream business, have been granted to persons of Italian or German origin.
The answer to the first part of the Question is, "No, Sir." In general, a licence for a new catering business is not granted unless the business is required to meet the essential needs of consumers, but this condition is not applied in the case of an ex-trader released from the Forces or from work of national importance who wishes to reopen a former business which he closed as a result of the war. With regard to the latter part of the Question, I regret that the information is not available.
Has the right hon. and gallant Gentleman any idea of how many licences have been issued to Italians? What steps is he taking to ensure that a reasonable proportion of these licences are reserved for men who have been serving overseas, and to ascertain that they are issued to such men?
To get an accurate account I should have to circulate 1,200 food offices; but I know that no Italian has got a licence unless there has been a consumer need, and normally only in cases where Italians have bought existing businesses and want to carry them on.
Fruit And Feeding Stuffs (Imports)
55.
asked the Minister of Food what steps he is taking, in view of the reduction of certain rationed foodstuffs, to resume or increase the import of West Indies bananas, Empire citrus and deciduous fruit, and feeding stuffs for poultry and livestock in the United Kingdom.
Arrangements have already been made to import the maximum quantities of Empire citrus fruit and feeding stuffs for which shipping space can be made available. We shall also import some apples, but I do not anticipate that freight can be spared this year for other deciduous fruit, whilst bananas require specially refrigerated vessels, as well as ventilated railway vehicles, neither of which can at present be spared for this traffic.
Does not meat require specially refrigerated vessels, and will not the reduction in the meat ration release a certain number of these vessels? Cannot they be used for carrying bananas?
Banana vessels are very useful for bringing in bacon, as well as bananas. [Interruption.] Some of it is coming in, but not as much as I would have liked. The main vessels in which we shall probably have spare space are the other refrigerated vessels. I hope to bring considerably more oranges in those vessels.
Can the Minister give any information about the millions of pounds of apples in Queensland, Australia, which have been in reserve for us for a long time, and have not yet reached us?
Australia is a long way away, and it is an extravagant place to bring apples from, from the point of view of shipping.
But we used to be able to sell them here at 5d. a pound, which is less than the price of apples grown in this country to-day.