Food Supplies Extra Rations (Agricultural Workers) 31. Mr. Charles Smith asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused by the discrimination between the agricultural worker and the agricultural smallholder in respect of extra rations; and whether he will extend to the latter category the extra rations already allowed to the former. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Dr. Edith Summerskill) Allowances for seasonal farming operations are already available to smallholders and agricultural workers alike. We are unable to extend the special cheese ration to self-employed workers since, as a general rule, they are able to make arrangements for obtaining a midday meal. 35. Sir Waldron Smithers asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that, although under form S.A.4 (AG) farm workers are allowed extra seasonal allowances for the hoeing and singling of roots, extra rations have been refused to men who are hoeing kale in the same field; and whether, in view of the fact that the jobs are identical, he will take immediate steps to put an end to this anomaly. Dr. Summerskill The farming operations for which seasonal allowances are given were selected after consultation with the Advisory Committee of the Trades Union Congress, and we do not propose to add to the list. Sir W. Smithers May I ask the right hon. Lady if she is not aware that this is further evidence of want of co-operation between the Ministry of Food and the Ministry of Agriculture? Is she further aware that the situation was described to me by a farmer who said, "Don't worry, Waldron, this is the last bit of Socialist folly of Comrade John and our Edith." Mr. R. A. Butler The right hon. Lady says she will not reconsider the matter. Will not she put the question again to the unions because it is clear to all of us who live in the country districts there is an anomaly here which ought to be seen into? Dr. Summerskill I recognise that there is an anomaly here and I do not deny it. Sir W. Smithers Then why not do something? Dr. Summerskill The right hon. Gentleman must realise that we have to draw the line somewhere, and I think he would agree that the Advisory Committee of the Trade Union Congress does take everything into consideration. Mr. Butler Does the right hon. Lady realise that there are a great number of people living in the country who also take these things into consideration and have views which ought to be considered, too? Sir W. Smithers Is not this further proof that the T.U.C. are masters of this country? Imitation Honey 32. Mr. Driberg asked the Minister of Food what are the ingredients of imitation honey; and what is its value as food in comparison with that of real honey. Dr. Summerskill The principal ingredient of imitation honey is invert sugar—[HON. MEMBERS: "What?"]—invert sugar. It sometimes contains other forms of sugar and may be flavoured, for example, with natural honey. There is no appreciable difference between the food values of imitation honey and natural honey. Sir T. Moore How does one recognise the inversion of this imitation honey? Dr. Summerskill Invert sugar is the result of breaking up the sucrose with acid. It is a mixture of glucose and fructose. Mr. Erroll Can the right hon. Lady say whether there is any difference in taste between real honey and imitation honey? Dr. Summerskill Very little. Air-Commodore Harvey Was not the recipe of this honey fully described in "Let us Face the Future"? Confectionery Exports 33. Mr. De la Bère asked the Minister of Food whether he will now define his policy in relation to the export of confectionery to countries with which Britain has a favourable balance of trade with special reference to the urgent and increasing home demand. Dr. Summerskill Exports of chocolate and sugar confectionery in 1949 to countries with which we have a favourable balance of trade will not exceed the limited amounts exported to them in 1948. Our object is to retain our connection with these markets, principally in Commonwealth countries and Colonial possessions. Mr. De la Bère Does not the Minister fully realise the urgent need to give an additional allocation at home? It is no use derationing without giving a proper allocation. Why not ensure that there is a proper allocation? It would work if only the right hon. Lady gave an adequate quantity. Dr. Summerskill The hon. Member should have thought of that before he pressed for derationing. Mr. De la Bère I will press the right hon. Lady now, and keep on pressing. Fish (Foreign Landings) 36. Mr. Shepherd asked the Minister of Food what steps he is taking to deal with a recurrence of the recent loss sustained by British fishermen when large catches were unsaleable for edible purposes owing to large scale foreign landings. Dr. Summerskill I presume the hon. Member is referring to the loss incurred during the week ended 21st May, when 825 tons of edible white fish were sent to the meal works at the four largest ports, out of 19,500 tons landed. In the light of these figures I cannot accept the implication that foreign landings are causing large losses. Mr. Shepherd Is it not also a fact that much of the fish landed fetches a very poor price; and what is the sense in sending out ships and using coal, men and ships to bring back nothing of value and at the same time paying foreign currency for landings elsewhere? Dr. Summerskill The hon. Member must realise that the general demand for fish is very good, but we cannot equate supply to demand every day. Sir David Robertson Would not this problem disappear if the Ministry of Food refused to accept fish collected all round the coast of Iceland and brought here in cargo vessels? Why does not the Ministry insist on the same procedure with our fish as with fish bought for Germany, that is, that it goes on the actual catching trawler direct from the grounds to the port of Hamburg? Dr. Summerskill As the hon. Gentleman knows, if there is congestion at certain ports we are allowed to suspend landings. Evw Camps (Meat Ration) 39. Major Legge-Bourke asked the Minister of Food how many British subjects are living in European voluntary workers camps in England and Wales, and are in receipt of the full meat ration; and how many of them are doing work that entitles European voluntary workers to this ration. Dr. Summerskill Ninety-two thousand, two hundred workers, of whom 51,700 are foreign, are living in industrial or agricultural camps and hostels and get the allowances of food on either the industrial "A" or "B" scales. Major Legge-Bourke Will the right hon. Lady say what steps are taken to ensure that unauthorised persons do not get an extra meat ration, because there is great resentment at this in rural areas? Dr. Summerskill The only answer I can give is that we have very responsible men in charge who are there for the purpose of preventing it from happening. Major Legge-Bourke Is there any check periodically? Dr. Summerskill The men are there to check it. Carrot Control 40. Mr. Collins asked the Minister of Food if he is now in position to make a statement on the termination of the carrot control. Dr. Summerskill No, Sir, I am not in a position to make a statement on the final termination of carrot control, but so far as the 1949 crop is concerned my right hon. Friend does not propose to control the price until the 1st November, and will not re-introduce licensing of traders. Sir T. Moore Would the right hon. Lady consider retaining enough carrots to dangle in front of the electorate at the next Election? Imported Fruit (Allocations) 41. Mr. Collins asked the Minister of Food what proposals he has for providing wholesalers who started business since 1939 with allocations of fruits imported and controlled by his Department. Dr. Summerskill I am sorry that I am not at present in a position to add anything to the reply on this subject given by my right hon. Friend on 2nd March. Mr. Collins Could my right hon. Friend say whether the difficulty is technical, since this change is so desirable; and could not she decide on one of the two most favoured schemes put forward, so that this very desirable objective can be achieved? Dr. Summerskill There are wider issues. We are considering the de-control of citrus fruit.