asked the Minister of Food whether, when he has small quantities of unrationed foods to dispose of, he will arrange for the wholesalers to ballot for these small lots at reasonable rates so that they can be passed on to the public at controlled prices.

We will bear in mind my hon. Friend's suggestion. The difficulty is that it is almost impossible to set up a system of fixed prices and controlled distribution for small quantities of unrationed foods.

In view of my right hon. Friend's recent experience with nuts—when private enterprise totally failed to distribute them to the public at reasonable prices—will he see that in future these small lots are distributed by some controlled method on the lines suggested?

We certainly try, but I think that my hon. Friend must recognise that with a limited stock of food, such as the stock of nuts which she mentioned, it would not be worth while to set up the whole apparatus of control.

asked the Minister of Food if he is now in a position to make a statement an the allocation of sugar and sweets for the next points period, both for the domestic consumer and for the confectionery trade; and if he will consider restoring the rations to the quantities allowed before the recent cuts, in view of the satisfactory food agreements concluded between His Majesty's Government and various soft currency countries.

I am afraid that none of these agreements has provided additional sugar from sterling or soft currency areas. All supplies available from such areas were taken into account in the decisions made. As soon as any favourable change takes place in the supply position I shall gladly re-examine the position.

Will not my right hon. Friend consider the position in relation to the stocks in the country, in view of the fact that potatoes are now in short supply and that, in some schools, the dinners provided contain practically no potatoes, and consequently the children are not properly fed and their parents are seriously worried about how to feed them in the home?

Certainly, when my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is in a position to say that the dollar situation has eased sufficiently for these stocks to be used, of course, we should all very much like to use them. I am afraid that that is not the position today.

Does the Minister's answer mean that he is still dividing, for distributive purposes, sugar bought in dollars from sugar bought in soft currencies?

If the hon. Gentleman means that we keep them in different warehouses, certainly not.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that it would be more desirable to distribute the sugar from stock now and have a cut in the summer when the warmer weather would make the hardship felt less.

It would be desirable if the dollar position made that possible.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that tinned foodstuffs on points are almost exclusively sold in tins too large to be bought by people living alone; and if he will take steps to see that in future a proportion of all such foodstuffs are packed in small tins containing individual portions.

I should like to do this, but tin plate is the main difficulty.

Would it not be possible for a certain amount of meat to be put up in small portions, because at present, if a consumer buys a tin of meat, it costs many points and is sufficient to last one person more than a week until he is sick of the sight of it?

I realise the difficulty, but we must not get into the position where the quantities of tinned food are limited by the supply of tin plate. We might easily find ourselves in that position.

asked the Minister of Food what progress has been made with the Danish Government in the negotiations for foodstuffs.

Detailed discussions have been held with the Danish delegation, who have now returned to Denmark for consultation with their Government. I hope that we shall be able to sign contracts on butter and bacon shortly.

Is it not a fact that the reason why these negotiations have not proceeded in a bigger way is that we are unable to offer the Danes steel and coal, and will the Minister try to approach this problem in the same way as he did in the case of Eire when be brought about agreement there?

I did not understand the last part of the hon. and gallant Gentleman's question.

Would the Minister try to approach this problem in the same way as he approached the discussions with Ireland regarding foodstuffs a few months ago.

It is not my Departmental responsibility, but supplies of scarce materials such as coal and steel have been offered to the Danes. However, we cannot offer them all the supplies available or we should have none for other very important customers.

Is one of the reasons the agreement has not been concluded that we would not offer any money transferable into hard currency, and is it not a fact that the Government have said repeatedly that hard currency will be made available for food supplies? Will the Minister make representations on the subject to the Government?

I could not agree with any of those suggestions. Of course, the Government have to buy some foodstuffs with hard currency—in the United States and Canada, for example—but I could not agree that any pledge has been made that hard currency would be available for any specific food supplies.

Have these discussions been confined to butter and bacon only, or has there been a large purchase of carrots?

Yes, there was a purchase of carrots, but that is not involved in these negotiations. That has actually taken place.

asked the Minister of Food if he will now increase the rations of hospital nurses and also district nurses, in 1Piew of their long hours of work.

I am afraid that I could not base differential rations on the number of hours worked by the individual.

Is the Minister aware that that is a most unsatisfactory answer? Is he aware that district nurses spend all hours of the day and night out in the country, and are thus unable to do their shopping; and that, in the case of hospital nurses, it will not assist the recruiting of these young ladies if they are to work all hours of the day and night and be completely underfed?

If there is a case for differential rationing for any trade or profession, it should be taken up through the Trades Union Congress.

Does the Minister intend to leave to the decision of the Trades Union Congress whether nurses are to get enough to eat?

Certainly not, but I do mean to state that I would not consider changing the differential rations as between different categories of workers without receiving the advice of the Trades Union Congress Advisory Committee on the matter.

May I ask the Minister to which trade union the district nurses should apply in the first place?

It depends whether they have an organisation of their own, and I hope they have, but, if they have not, they should get one.

Oh.

In view of the seriousness of this matter, I beg to give notice that I shall raise it on the Motion for the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Food what progress has been made in the negotiations with the Roumanian Government with a view to purchasing feedingstuffs for British livestock, and other commodities.

The lists of supplies required by Roumania have been examined, and a reply is about to be sent to the Roumanian Government.

Since it was more than four months ago that the Roumanian Government had a surplus of oil, maize and other commodities available for export, what has caused the serious delay in reaching agreement?

The Roumanian Government only recently submitted a list of what they want from us, which is not an unimportant matter.

Is the Minister aware that, when I was in Roumania four months ago, I had pointed out to me what it was that they wanted from us, and could have told the Minister?

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now in a position to allow prewar consumers of commodities, including oils, under the control of his Ministry whose businesses closed down during the war owing to their absence with the Forces to get an allocation of the materials which are necessary for their businesses to function.

My Department has been doing this since 1943. In fact, for retail and catering licences we are ending the arrangements on 29th February because all those eligible should by then have had a chance to apply. If the hon. Member has any specific case of hardship in mind and will send me details, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that certain tinned cabbage imported by his Department from Australia has arrived unfit for consumption; and whether he will investigate this matter before further shipments are ordered.

The Australian tinned cabbage to which the hon. Member refers came from surplus Army stocks, which were sampled by the Government chemists' department and by public analysts before being distributed for catering use, and I am satisfied that it is fit for consumption.

Is the right hon. Gentleman's satisfaction, expressed in his last sentence, based on personal experience of the tin I sent him?

No, Sir.

Does the Minister really think that it is worth while, when shipping space is so very important, that we should be importing tinned cabbage when we can grow plenty of cabbage in this country?

asked the Minister of Food why the same restrictions now operating in British Restaurants are not also applied to British passenger ships at least in respect of the number of items to be selected from a generous menu.

The amount of food that may be shipped aboard British passenger ships is already controlled, and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by attempting to decide how it may be used.

Is the Minister aware that, in fact, the menus on these ships are extremely generous and that passengers have a choice, not merely of one or two dishes, but of any number, and does he think that that is in accordance with the supplies available at home?

The main reason is that British passenger ships have to compete in the world market, and I think it would be very unwise to restrict their catering facilities.

Does the Minister suggest that a simple choice of one, two or three dishes would prevent people sailing on our ships?

I think that, when our ships have to compete with what I might call dollar ships, it would be very unwise to restrict their earning capacity.

Does the Minister propose to ask the T.U.C. about this matter?

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that Mr. F. Simmonds of 27, Montefiore Road, Hove, invested his war service gratuity in the purchase of a business at that address registered by the local authority for the manufacture and sale of ice-cream; that the Ministry has now refused him a permit to acquire the necessary ingredients; and why the regulation made in 1940 relating to a cancellation of the allocation on a business changing hands cannot now be modified to meet such cases.

I understand that Mr. Simmonds has purchased a general business and sells newspapers, stationery, fancy goods, tobacco and sweets. He also runs a lending library. No rationed foods have been authorised to this business for ice-cream making since control was introduced in 1940, so the last part of the Question does not arise.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that he wrote to me about this case, stating the reasons why this transfer could not take place on account of a ruling in 1940? May I ask him, in view of the fact that these premises were originally registered for the sale of ice-cream, why that registration cannot be continued when an ex-Service man takes them over?

I do not think we can go back to before 1940 in this case.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of food has so far been saved as a result of S.R. & O., 1955 (Meals at Social Functions), which limits to 100 the number of persons who may take a meal together; and what is the estimated saving over the next six months.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Debate in the House on Thursday, 27th November.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that does not answer my Question at all? Is not the reason for his answer the fact that he does not know whether he is going to make a saving or not, and, if he does not know, what justification is there for continuing the Order?

The Order was never bound up with any suggestion that it would save an estimable amount of rationed foodstuffs. All the psychological reasons were given in that Debate.

asked the Minister of Food why a licence was recently granted under the Meals Service at Social Functions Order, for the annual Winkle Club dinner of Hastings fishermen; what is the distinction, for the purpose of such a licence, between that dinner, dinners of business organisations and associations, trade unions and staff associations, regimental and other Service gatherings, functions promoted by the British Legion and Old Comrades' Association and the dinner recently proposed to be given to the staff of the "Northampton Evening Telegraph" to celebrate the golden jubilee of that newspaper and to welcome home the ex-Service members of the staff.

I regret that, owing to a misunderstanding the licence was wrongly issued to the Winkle Club. No licence should be issued for the sole purpose of serving a meal at a social or business gathering. That is the reason for refusing a licence in the cases mentioned by my hon. Friend.

Will the Minister reconsider the question of licences on occasions of considerable local importance, as distinct from national importance, bearing in mind that a licence was refused in this case for the golden jubilee celebrations of a newspaper which has a wide circulation and a large staff, and that it was an occasion of considerable local importance; and that, further, he ought not to give a preference to London as against a provincial town, such as Kettering?

I cannot agree that there is any preference for London as against provincial centres in this matter, but I would say that it is a very difficult order to administer. Some exceptions must be made, and it is difficult to find watertight rules for them.

Would the Minister define "provincial centres"?

asked the Minister of Food whether he has considered the photographs taken at a dinner organised by the Bow and Bromley Labour Party at Poplar Town Hall on 8th January, 1948, which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames; and whether he is now satisfied that the licence for this dinner was properly granted.

Yes, Sir. The licence was, in my opinion, properly granted, but I am not yet in a position to say whether its conditions were observed. The matter is still under inquiry.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's answer mean that the licence was properly granted, provided that the facts set out on the application were true, but that what he is investigating is whether or not his officer was misled?

The question whether the conditions under which the licence was granted were duly observed is what we are investigating.

In view of the right hon. Gentleman's previous answer, that this order was originally imposed on psychological grounds, may I ask whose morale has been uplifted by the granting of the licence?

The suggestion is that if the licence was granted unduly easily, then nobody's morale was uplifted by it.

asked the Minister of Food why a shortage of potatoes occurred in London and the South during the Christmas and New Year periods; and in what respect the Potato Rationing Order was thereby found to be defective.

The general potato shortage at Christmas and the New Year was due to the usual reduction in loadings over the holidays and the low reserve of stocks in traders' hands. The Control Order limiting the supply which could be sold to each consumer could not be the cause. The cause was the shortage of potatoes due to last year's bad crop.

Could not this perfectly natural factor have been foreseen, and was not that the object of potato rationing originally?

The natural factor of a bad crop was taken into account in preparing the rationing or allocation scheme.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that, after rationing was introduced, on 24th November he said:

"We shall make sufficient potatoes available through the chain of distribution to meet the allowance. I am perfectly well able to give that assurance."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 24th November, 1947; Vol. 444, c. 1747.]

From other statements which I have made, the right hon. and learned Gentleman will have seen that I was careful to say that this was not an entitlement, but an allocation, and that there were, especially in London, certain difficulties in maintaining that allocation, but that that was unavoidable.

Could my right hon. Friend say whether there is any truth in the suggestion that growers occasionally hold back supplies in expectation of an increased price?

Just before one of the seasonal increases, there may be some inducement to do that.

May I take it that the assurance given by the Minister in this House has not been honoured?

Certainly not.

asked the Minister of Food why the price of seed potatoes was raised by £1 per ton after Scots producers had, at the express desire of his Ministry, sold the great bulk of their stocks.

The price of seed potatoes was raised in order to provide extra supplies for planting next season's larger acreage. The price increase which was necessary to cover the costs of such a supply was given to seed potatoes grown in all parts of the United Kingdom, including about one-half of the quantity expected from Scotland.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Scottish farmers, having had no opportunity of selling at the increased price, now have to buy at that price, and are thereby doubly penalised?

No, Sir. At least one half of the Scottish suppliers will receive the increased price.

Is the Minister aware that that is not in accordance with the information received in Scotland?

asked the Minister of Food if he will make an early statement on the date for ending the restrictions on potato allocations to fish and chip merchants and other catering establishments, in order to give such bodies an opportunity to assess the state of their businesses and make provision for the future.

The whole potato distribution scheme will be withdrawn when supplies of next season's new crop potatoes are sufficient in volume to make its retention unnecessary. The exact date cannot be forecast.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will receive a deputation of fish and chip merchants from industrial areas asking for the rectification of the disproportionate potato allowances to canteens and others as against fish shops.

I have had a further memorandum from the National Federation of Fish Friers, dated 21st January. When I have considered it, I will see if any useful purpose is to be served by my seeing a deputation.

Is not the Minister aware that he could not fail to learn at firsthand from such a deputation the great and important part that fish and chip shops play in industrial areas? They are a means of helping women in industry, and he should receive the deputation to learn about this matter at firsthand.

Yes, certainly, but I must point out that canteens are also of great importance.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that such shops, which play such an important part in the diet of the people in these areas, have a prior claim to potatoes to that of the ordinary restaurants, which can, if necessary, serve a couple of other vegetables instead of potatoes?

I think there is a case for priority as against the ordinary restaurants, especially of the more expensive type, but, as regards canteens and the cheaper establishments, I think we must keep a balance.

Will my right hon. Friend also bear in mind the claims of the rural districts in this matter?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food if he will arrange for an emergency stock of potatoes to be held in London for use on occasions when shortages arise in Greater London through the temporary breakdown of normal distributive arrangements.

I have already arranged for part of the farm reserve to be moved to depots in London.

asked the Minister of Food if his attention has been drawn to the high percentage of stones, earth and rubbish contained in sacks of potatoes supplied to retailers; if he is aware that shopkeepers have to suffer this loss; and if he will consult with the suppliers in this matter.

Yes, Sir; I have recently had details of one very bad delivery. Retailers need not accept sub-standard potatoes, and I will certainly take up with the suppliers any infringements brought to my notice.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that seven lb. per cwt. allowed to retailers is sufficient, now that potatoes have to be weighed out in small quantities?

I appreciate the difficulty which my hon. Friend has mentioned, but I think that is sufficient.

asked the Minister at Food whether his attention has been drawn to heavy buying by housewives of seed potatoes at 7 lb. for 2s. from the seed counters of chain stores; and how he proposes to assist persons to secure adequate supplies for sowing in allotments and gardens.

Any store may only sell seed potatoes to people who certify that the seed will be planted. The price of seed is substantially higher than the price of ware. All further measures have been taken to make more seed available for planters.

Will the Minister take special precautions to ensure that the conditions of sale are strictly observed in the popular chain stores?

Certainly, Sir.

Could not signatures be obtained from people buying such potatoes in order to certify that they will be used only for seed?

I would like notice of that question, but I will note my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the shortage of potatoes, he will increase the basic bread ration.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 21st January, to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson).

Will the Minister be prepared to take a reasonable risk with flour stocks if potato stocks should fail unduly?

No, I could not give an undertaking to take a risk with flour stocks; that is the last thing we would do. But, as my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary replied on a former occasion, we have increased the bread ration in one category, and if the potato situation became worse, we would certainly consider if we could not do it in another category.

If the right hon. Gentleman is going to give extra bread to any classes, will he remember that it is particularly important that adolescents of all kinds should get it?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider improving the facilities for the distribution of herrings in the West of Scotland, so that the Clyde fishermen will be guaranteed a market for their catches.

I have arranged a contract for 6,000 tons of klondyked herrings for Germany to be shipped from Gourock if supplies are available. Herrings landed by Clyde fishermen at Portpatrick, Ayr and Gourock are eligible for free outward carriage to inland markets.

Is the Minister aware that on 7th January the ports of Ayr, Campbelltown, and Tarbert were closed to the fishermen owing to the fact that 1,500 baskets had been sent to the fish meal factory the previous day, and that, the next day, they limited the factory to 200 baskets. Will he look into the facilities for distribution in this country, where there is a great demand for food, especially in the West of Scotland, and see if the method of distribution can he improved?

I am aware that there are difficulties in the distribution of herrings, but I would not accept the implication that it was not worth while sending herrings to the meal factory for the production of oil which makes margarine, which is very useful.

asked the Minister of Food if he will now make a further statement concerning the milk registrations of Mr. Bernard French and his family, of 77, Cremorne Road, Sutton Coldfield.

I must apologise to the hon. Member for the answer I gave him on 8th December. As a result of his suggestion that I had not got the full story, I went into the matter in detail and discovered that the real situation was as set out in my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary's letter to the hon. Member on 16th January. We have now arranged for Mr. French to change his retailer.

While I note the Minister's answer, does he recognise that, since he was demobilised in 1945, Mr. French has continually protested against being registered with the Walsall Co-operative Society?

I do not know whether he has continually protested, but, certainly, he did not have the opportunity of changing earlier, which I alleged he had had, and which he certainly should have had. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for putting the matter right.

asked the Minister of Food why consumers, who are obtaining pasteurised milk, are not permitted to change their retailers in order to obtain tuberculin-tested milk, even when their applications are supported by their family doctors.

Our medical advisers take the view that there are no general medical reasons for allowing a change of retailer in order to enable a consumer to obtain tuberculin-tested instead of pasteurised milk. Nevertheless, they have always been willing to consider requests based on exceptional medical needs.

In cases where the family doctor recommends a change, why should those cases be referred to the Ministry's medical advisers who have never seen the patient? Does not the family doctor know best?

They are willing to take an exceptional case, but they firmly take the view that there is no general prima facie case for change on medical grounds.

Could the right hon. Gentleman tell us why this very generally desirable change could not be made in any event? What is the objection to allowing such changes?

It is the difficulty of changing the retail milk supplies. That is a wider question, which I am considering at the moment.

asked the Minister of Food when he expects to receive the report of the Committee on Milk Distribution.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leicester (Mr. Janner) on 23rd January.

Can the Minister say if this report will be published?

I have not studied it yet, but I imagine it will be. I cannot imagine any great difficulty there.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there is a great deal of feeling about milk not being distributed on Sundays? I have had a number of complaints sent to me about the matter.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food why customers of Messrs. H. A. Job Limited, of Walton-on-Thames, have been arbitrarily transferred to United Dairies Limited; and in view of the great dissatisfaction caused by this order if he will rescind it.

I am arranging for an inquiry into the protests made by the consumer, and if they are justified I will have the decision reconsidered.

asked the Minister of Food if he will reconsider the method of allocation of imported poultry, as ex-Service men and others who have opened retail shops since 1938 find that no allocation can be made to them as they were not selling imported poultry in that year, thus giving decided advantages to the old established business and imposing a hardship on the new business and its customers.

The Committee I recently set up to investigate illicit trading in livestock meat, poultry and rabbits is also examining this and related matters. I will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion in the light of the Committee's report when I receive it.

asked the Minister of Food why 10,000 tons of carrots have been purchased from Denmark when there is an adequate supply in this country; and whether he consulted the Minister of Agriculture with regard to this purchase.

asked the Minister of Food why he has recently purchased 10,000 tons of carrots from Denmark when the home 1947 crop is ready to be sold and should be sufficient to satisfy the demand for a considerable period.

Home supplies of carrots are much lower this year than normal, and I therefore decided, in agreement with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, to import carrots from Denmark to supplement our supplies of root vegetables. Home producers receive a guaranteed price for all their carrots, and so imports cannot affect their interests.

Would the right hon. Gentleman tell the House the price paid to Denmark for these carrots?

No, Sir. We never disclose the price.

Can the Minister say why he has had to place an embargo on the British producer sending his carrots where he always used to send them?

No such embargo has been imposed, but we must, of course, in guaranteed price schemes of this sort, arrange the loading of supplies at particular times so that they are not all loaded at once. This is done in our own and the producers' interests.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how it is that we can find money with which to buy carrots from Denmark, and yet cannot find the money with which to buy eggs and bacon?

The reason is because they are much cheaper.

If there is a shortage of carrots, why has the right hon. Gentleman given a double profit margin to those selling Danish carrots instead of English carrots?

I am not aware of that suggestion, and, without notice, I cannot give the hon. Gentleman the exact facts.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, only yesterday.I received a letter from Covent Garden saying that they had had wires asking, "Can you take English carrots?" and that farmers were putting off men because they could not sell their carrots?

The hon. Gentleman does not seem to realise that all carrots in this country can find a market in this Ministry at a guaranteed price. Hon. Members opposite really must not object to our supplementing our supplies of vegetables and other foodstuffs.

asked the Minister of Food if he is satisfied that aged people are able to get adequate nutrition from present rations; and whether he will make some investigation into their special difficulties.

I realise the difficulties of old people, and my Department is making investigations into their special cases.

How does the right hon. Gentleman think that old people can supplement their rations, which only amount to 1,600 calories a day, so as to give them an adequate diet?

I think my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Beswick) was referring to the additional difficulties which old people have when shopping in fish shops and so forth. We should very much like to help them, but it is not an easy problem.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there is also a special difficulty in that these old people are often unable to digest some of the food available on the ration, and, therefore, they have a special claim for some supplementary rations?

Yes, Sir, we take that fact into account also.

asked the Minister of Food if he will arrange for special queue priority cards for aged people, similiar to those provided for expectant mothers.

I am sorry, but we feel convinced that if we tried to extend the queue priority system it would tend to become worthless.

asked the Minister of Food if his attention has been drawn to the exhibition of frozen cooked food now being shown at Olympia; and if he will take steps to assist and encourage this modern method for the preservation and distribution of food.

Yes, Sir, I have already taken steps to assist in the development of the quick freezing of cooked food, but in view of the general food shortage licences have been limited to suppliers to British and foreign airlines operating from and outside this country. British prepared quick frozen meals are served on the aircraft of a number of airlines, both British and foreign, and also to passengers at the air ports served by these aircraft. This makes a valuable contribution to our export trade.

Will the Minister keep an open mind about this? It is such an obvious method of economy, by stopping all waste in times of glut, so will he do all he can to encourage it further in the country beyond use in aircraft?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the difficulty of obtaining shell eggs against emergency ration cards; and if he will take action to ease the difficulty.

I realise that this is sometimes difficult. If the hon. Member knows of a particular case and will send me details, I will have inquiries made.

Would the Minister bear in mind that the difficulty arises particularly during the school holidays, when mothers have great difficulty in getting shell eggs for children at home for five or six weeks?

I realise that is the difficulty.

asked the Minister of Food what method is adopted for ascertaining the number of animals that are to be allowed to be slaughtered by the Jewish method; what was the total weight of animals so slaughtered in 1947; whether he is satisfied that such Kosher meat is only available for Jews; and what is the amount allowed per person per week.

The Ministry's slaughter house manager selects for slaughter by the Jewish method enough of the available livestock to cover the requirements of Kosher butchers. The weights of animals slaughtered by the Jewish method are not separately recorded. Anyone can register with Kosher butchers, so it may be that some Kosher meat is sold to non-Jewish consumers. But I hardly think that anyone has an inducement to do so, as at present the value of the Kosher ration is 1s. per person per week, the same as the ordinary ration. Moreover, Kosher butchers get no canned corned meat when that is part of the ration, and so their customers lose something in quantity during the year.

Can my right hon. Friend state what is the proportion of Kosher killed meat to the total home killed meat; and if he does not know now, will he tell me if I put down a Question?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food when the terms of the Anglo-Russian Trade Agreement were communicated to the International Emergency Food Council.

I am not aware that the terms of the Agreement have been communicated to the I.E.F.C., or that it would be appropriate to make such a communication.

asked the Minister of Food whether, under the terms of the Anglo-Russian Trade Agreement, any receipts of grain will constitute a nett addition to the cereal imports of this country.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an assurance that whatever quantities of grain are received by this country under the Anglo-Russian Trade Agreement, such deliveries will not lead to a reduction of any allocation by the International Emergency Food Council.

The recommendations of the International Emergency Food Council regarding the distribution of cereals relate only to bread grains. The Russian coarse grains purchased by this country will be used mainly for animal feeding.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the decision in the case of Baxter v. Baxter, he proposes to amend the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1937.

No, Sir. The Government do not intend to introduce legislation as a result of the decision to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the law, as it now defines the consummation of marriage, is regarded by many people as pernicious and contrary to public policy, and will he ask the Leader of the House to provide an opportunity for discussing this matter at an early date?

This matter raises difficult and controversial social issues, but I think that the effect of the decision in the case of Baxter v. Baxter has, to some extent, been misunderstood. The case did not decide that one of the parties to a marriage was entitled to refuse marital relations unless contraceptives were used, nor did it decide that in such a case where relations were so refused the other party would be without remedy. The decision was simply that where marital relations have taken place, the use of contraceptives, whether with or without the consent of both parties, did not prevent the marriage being consummated within the meaning of the Matrimonial Causes Act. Beyond that, one can only say that this is one of the fields of intimate human relationship which cannot, in our view, properly be dealt with by legislation.

Is the effect of this decision that the matter will have to be decided by subsequent litigation rather than by legislation?

It is possible that, in the circumstances of some particular case, the courts may have to decide what may be the effect of the use of contraceptives against the wish of one of the spouses. We think it had better be left to the courts to decide in the circumstances of a particular case.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps have been and are being taken to protect the towns of St. Neots, Godmanchester, Huntingdon and St. Ives from a recurrence of the serious flooding from which they suffered in March, 1947.

The River Great Ouse Catchment Board as the responsible body, are making full investigation, including a survey, to see whether flood levels can be reduced or protection provided for the four towns.

Is the Minister aware that the people in the four towns concerned are still anxious about the danger of flooding, and will he reconsider his decision not to receive a representative delegation from those towns to discuss the matter?

I appreciate that anxiety still remains, but the Engineer to the Great Ouse Catchment Board has already met representatives of the four towns concerned, and, as it would be the Catchment Board which would have to undertake any work, I do not see the point of my receiving a deputation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that houses in industrial areas are constantly in need of rat disinfestation; and whether he is prepared to encourage the use of rat operatives by removing from local authorities the obligation to charge for their services.

I am aware of the need for rat destruction in industrial areas, and local authorities are urged and assisted to maintain effective rat control. The recovery from the occupier of expenditure incurred by local authorities for rat destruction on premises is provided for in Section 3 (1) of the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, and it does not rest with me to intervene.

Does a rat operative belong to a different union from that of a rat catcher?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has now received undertakings through the county agricultural executive committees that farmers will voluntarily grow the required acreages of potatoes this season; and what is the total United Kingdom acreage assured, compared with the acreages grown in 1947 and 1946.

The latest figures I have received indicate that for the United Kingdom as a whole, farmers have so far voluntarily undertaken to plan 1,408,038 acres. This is 1 per cent. below the target of 1,423,000 acres which is the same as the actual acreage of 1946, and compares with an acreage of 1,330,000 in 1947. The campaign is still proceeding, and I am confident that this small deficit will be wiped out through the further efforts of farmers, the county branches of the National Farmers' Union and agricultural executive committees. In addition, I would appeal to everyone with an allotment or garden to plant more potatoes this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that it is impossible to purchase metal ear-tags needed for marking pedigree livestock; and if he will arrange for the manufacture of these to be resumed.

I understand that while there is some difficulty in obtaining tags of the riveted stud type, owing to the shortage of metal of the correct degree of softness, aluminium tags of the "clip-on" type are not difficult to obtain. If the hon. Member will send me details of any particular difficulty he has experienced, I will gladly look into it.

Is the Minister aware that some pedigree stock keepers are having to send to Australia to obtain the type of ear-tags they require?

I was not aware of that.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will arrange for one officer of each county agricultural executive committee to be responsible for hastening the issue of permits to enable essential repairs to farm buildings to be carried out without delay; and if he will call for monthly progress reports.

Committees do not themselves issue licences for building work, and I assume that the hon. Member has in mind steps to expedite the handling of applications referred to Committees for investigation. In a recent circular Committees have been urged to avoid delay in dealing with applications, and I do not feel that any further instructions from me are necessary at the moment.

Would it not greatly help if one responsible officer of each committee piloted these permits all the way through, not only through the Ministry of Agriculture, but through the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Supply, who are holding them up?

We have already allowed county executive committees to sponsor applications for up to £1,000 instead of up to the previous limit of £500, and the Provincial Land Commissioners may now sponsor applications up to the value of £3,000. Since thus 98 per cent. of the applications are covered, few or none will have to go to the regional officer.

But nothing else happens afterwards.

What the Minister says may or may not be true. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order."] I am not saying anything derogatory. Shall I put it another way? [HON. MEMBERS: "Yes."] Accepting the Minister's remarks, may I ask him whether he is aware that the difficulty in this matter is the length of time taken for the applications, in the sponsorship or any other business connected with them, to get through the various committees? Is he aware that it generally takes anything from three weeks, as a minimum, up to six weeks? [HON. MEMBERS: "More."] No, I think that is about the time. Does not the right hon. Gentleman think he can do something on the lines suggested to get over this?

I am fully aware that the large number of applications being received by county executive committees does involve some delay, but the only possibility of reducing that delay would be to increase the number of people employed having the duty to examine each application. I am satisfied that the new arrangement will expedite applications.

No, it will not. Could not the right hon. Gentleman give district officers, and, in certain cases, county executive officers, the power in certain urgent cases to give the necessary permission or approval, and then to get the approval endorsed by the county committee later?

Then we should have to set up some other person to decide what was a very urgent case.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether in view of the dislike of horticulturists and market gardeners to the recommendations of the Lucas Committee on horticultural marketing, he will give an assurance that he will not seek to implement them by introduction of legislation during 1948.

I cannot yet add to the replies I gave on 8th December, to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Bartlett) and the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton).

Does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that if the recommendations of the Lucas Committee were implemented it would disturb the primary producers throughout the country? Have not the Government promised to do everything to encourage them? Why tinker about with this matter? It is monstrous.

No, I do not recognise anything of the kind.

This is getting more monstrous as it goes on.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a further statement of how the Government propose to tackle the problem of the large areas of potentially productive land still derelict and the many thousands of acres not producing maximum crops.

I have written to the chairman of the county agricultural executive committees and broadcast to farmers, to the effect that everything possible should be done to promote or step up production from such land without risking a diminution in total production by directing resources to less productive land when they might be used to increase output from better land.

Are we to understand that the Government are at last doing one thing to help agriculture, even if it is only one: it is very, very poor?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider taking in hand all the common land at present lying derelict in this country, and which is producing nothing whatever?

There are facilities for that, and we are trying to make the greatest use of the land.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether he will give an assurance that he will not allow further labour and materials to be used in metalling spur or lateral roads up the fell sides in the vicinity of the Ennerdale Forest Road;