asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the serious shortage of potatoes in London; and what steps is he taking to meet this and the recurrent shortage of the same commodity at periodic intervals.

I am glad to say that the position has greatly improved, and the rain we have just had should add appreciably to the weight of new supplies. Six months ago a shortage of one month's duration was foreseen for the whole country. Energetic measures were taken to conserve the home crop and to import potatoes, with the result that, in spite of the weather, the shortage was reduced to about one week, and restricted chiefly to London and the South-East. Similar action will be taken, if necessary, in future.

Is the Minister aware that on several occasions there have been serious shortages of potatoes in London, and that, ultimately, the Ministry of Food have taken action to divert supplies? Is it not possible in future for such action to be taken fairly early, so that large numbers of families shall not have to go a whole weekend without potatoes?

Since the introduction of bread rationing the consumption of potatoes has increased by 20 per cent and, therefore, it has been found a little difficult to adjust supplies. But I can assure my hon. Friend that we shall try to guarantee that this will not happen again.

Would the hon. Lady say why it was that the large stocks available in the north of Scotland were not tapped before this shortage took place in London?

We are transporting potatoes from the north of Scotland as quickly as we can.

asked the Minister of Food if he will show for each main item of rationed food the percentage which is home produced.

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Food the reasons for the fall in the quantities of meats and canned meat, respectively, imported from Brazil in 1947 as against the same period in 1946.

From our information on conditions in Brazil, it appears that the supplies of meat in that country have latterly declined while internal consumption has at the same time increased. We are constantly in touch with the Brazilian authorities, but we have not so far been able to get any firm indication as to when the shipments to this country will get back to normal.

Could the hon. Lady give an assurance that the problem has not been aggravated by the desire of the Brazilian Government to be paid in dollars? Could she give an assurance on that point?

I think I can give the assurance. I believe the reason is that consumption in Brazil has increased.

asked the Minister of Food what is the national increase in cost to consumers arising from the raising of the controlled prices of cocoa, chocolate, milk and tea, based on current consumption, stating separately the amounts for each item.

On current consumption, the estimate for 12 months would be: Chocolate and chocolate confectionery, £4½ million; cocoa powder and drinking chocolate, £900,000; Milk, £19 million; tea, £6 million.

From what I have heard, it seems that the total is about £29 million that is to be the increase of the cost of living of the people of this country. Therefore, may I ask the Minister whether this is part of a policy deliberately to inflate prices, because that probably will not accord with the Government's policy of pegging wages? What is the policy on the matter? Are we inflating deliberately, or are we not?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are keeping prices within the cost-of-living index.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement showing the increases and decreases in the price of food that have taken place since 1st May in comparison with prices as at 1st January.

The answer calls for a rather long list of figures, and, with permission, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the Minister, however, say this? Are there any decreases in this period, and, roughly, what is the number of decreases and the number of increases?

The decreases are for bananas and bacon. The rest are all increases.

Will the hon. Lady compare these increases or decreases with the increases that have just been announced in Russia?

asked the Minister of Food the retail price of main fruits and vegetables before price control was withdrawn last autumn; and the comparative retail prices for the same commodities as at the nearest convenient date.

Of the main fruits and vegetables only cabbages, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and leeks were decontrolled in price last autumn. To make a true comparison with the prices then ruling we should have to wait until next autumn as supplies and prices fluctuate with the seasons. I will, however, if he wishes, send my hon. Friend some detailed information about prices which will be of interest to him.

Is the Minister aware that, despite the assurances that have come from her Department that, with the increased supplies of fruit and vegetables, the prices would fall, those assurances have not yet materialised? Can she say whether they are likely to materialise in the near future?

I would remind my hon. Friend that there have been other factors. For instance, we gave open general licences for leafy vegetables during the last month or two. But, unfortunately, on 1st May we had to stop those, because of infestation by Colorado beetle.

asked the Minister of Food the average calorie value per meal of the 59,000,000 main meals and the 121,000,000 subsidiary meals, respectively, served by catering establishments weekly.

No, Sir. I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Food what was the total estimated killing-out weight of the 30 fat cattle when graded at Fakenham Market, Norfolk, on 8th May, 1947, and the actual weight of meat fit for human consumption when the cattle were slaughtered after arrival at Aldershot.

One of the animals was found dead in the truck. The estimated killing-out weight of the other 29 cattle was 22,299 lb. My Department bought these cattle on the basis of live weight and estimated killing-out percentage; it is the practice not to disclose the dead-weights in the case of such purchases. In this particular case, however, I can assure my hon. Friend that the difference between the estimated and actual weights was less than 2 per cent.

Is not the reason for the loss of killing-out weight of these cattle the fact that they are sent such enormous distances from the slaughter-houses to the consumption centre; and could not that be avoided?

I think the hon. Member knows that the capacity of some of the slaughter-houses is limited. That is why these cattle have to be sent rather long distances on occasions.