German Mutton
59.
asked the Minister of Food whether he has yet completed negotiations with the West German Government about sending mutton to this country.
I am looking into the possibility of buying meat in West Germany, but before any negotiations could take place, the Government would have to be satisfied that meat could be imported from that country without danger to animal health here and that methods of inspection and slaughtering are up to the standards we require.
If, as I understand, the meat is available, how does the Minister reconcile this availability with the frequent expression of opinion by his right hon. and hon. colleagues that when rationing is done away with in Germany the mass of the people there will go hungry?
I recollect being pressed from all parts of the House to try to find meat in every possible place. That is what we are trying to do. At the same time, we have to take account of the risk to our own animal health. We have already had dangers arising from fowl pest and we have to take care.
Australian Beef
60.
asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the quality of Australian beef being supplied under the bulk purchase agreement, he will allow normal trading to be resumed, with appropriate price variations according to grade, so that more good quality meat may again be shipped to Britain.
Grade for grade there is little, if any, difference between the quality of Australian beef shipped to-day and that received before the war. I have no reason to think that there would be an improvement in quality if private trading were resumed.
Is the Minister aware that so long as we do not engage in competitive trading when buying beef we shall be given merely the leavings of the Australian trade, including a great quantity of low-grade carcase meat not fit to be distributed in the weekly ration?
As the hon. Member knows, the Australian Government is very anxious that we should conduct our relations there with the Government or with the buying and selling producer boards which the Government recognise there. We are now engaged in working out long-term plans to deal with this problem and this will inevitably involve entering into arrangements with those buying and selling boards.
Would not the result of the course advocated by the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) be a considerable increase in price for this type of meat?
Branded Margarine
61.
asked the Minister of Food whether he will now consider a return to branded margarine; and if he will now end the rationing of all margarines.
I have examined the possibility of reintroducing branded margarine very carefully in recent months but have had to conclude that such a step is impracticable at present, in view of the uncertainty of supplies. As for rationing, I am afraid that I shall not be able to consider ending it until edible oils and fats are more plentiful.
Is the Minister not aware—I hope he can hear me—that there is no practical reason why margarine should not be de-rationed? Is it not a fact that there are adequate supplies of margarine so as to enable it to be de-rationed forthwith?
I think the whole House is glad to hear the hon. Member again. I am quite safe in saying that at the moment it is quite impossible to accept his proposal.
I shall have to challenge the right hon. Gentleman again.