38.
asked the Minister of Food if he will state the approximate tonnage of animal foodstuffs he must import month by month to maintain the existing meat ration until September, 1950.
Home produced supplies of rationed meat depend mainly on homegrown feedingstuffs and are not much affected by changes in supplies of imported feedingstuffs which are used chiefly for the production of milk, eggs and bacon. Feedingstuffs, even if imported now and directed to produce beef or pork, could have no significant effect on the output of meat for the ration until the summer of 1950.
Would the Minister state whether he could buy more from Empire sources if he wished?
No, Sir. We buy all the available feedingstuffs not only from Empire and Commonwealth sources, but also from all non-dollar sources.
Would the right hon. Gentleman mind answering my question? Could he buy more if he wished to do so?
I have just answered the hon. Member's question. We do already buy all the available supplies from Commonwealth and all other non-dollar sources.