asked the Minister of Food whether he will now announce a date for the end of sugar rationing.

No, Sir.

But is it not time that the right hon. Gentleman did?

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now remove the remaining restrictions on the opening of retail food shops.

asked the Minister of Food how soon he hopes to be able to relax the present restrictions on the granting of new licences for the sale of confectionery.

I do not think that I can remove these restrictions at present but, as I have already said, they will be relaxed as soon as conditions permit.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that if he is anxious to bring down prices, as I am sure that he is, to increase the area of competition is the surest possible way of doing that?

So far as that is possible, I am all in favour of it, but in so far as we have to meet rations we must adhere to the licensing of retail confectioners and other suppliers of commodities.

As certain catering licences are now being given without reference to local food committees, as to whether or not local consumer need exists, what justification is there for continuing the rationing of food?

The position was changed in the matter of catering licences, because we took off the restriction on the 5s. limit. That altered the whole position. There are still restrictions on other commodities, and it is still necessary to retain licences.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that his refusal to relax restrictions is due entirely to shortage of sugar and not due to the views of the Government on the structure of retail trade?

I think I can give that assurance.

Is the Minister aware that his predecessor usually ignored the advice of local food officers, and will he bear in mind that note ought to be taken of their advice? Perhaps he will act on it.

Why not, in any case, allow these experiments, because if they succeed it will show that there is consumer need, whereas if they fail it will leave no hard feelings on the part of the applicants?

I am prepared to allow as many experiments as I feel, on balance, are likely to succeed, but I should not be prepared to allow one which I thought would prove unsuccessful.

asked the Minister of Food when he proposes to relinquish the cocoa buying controls.

I hope to take a decision about this in the near future.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the profits to his Department on this controlled buying represent a form of indirect taxation in this industry, and will he take into account the fact that the present controls result in some uncertainty of supplies and also in high costs, which are resulting in unemployment in the industry?

Discussions on the matter are now being held with representatives of manufacturers and cocoa dealers. I am carefully considering their views. I am well aware of the need for an early decision on the matter.

asked the Minister of Food if he will withdraw Circular G.3339 RP/N, issued by his Department's Northern Region, authorising buying permits for seasonal establishments for the period 13th August to 7th October, 1950, to be allocated on the basis of meals served from 11th September to 5th November, 1949, and instead base these permits on meals served during the equivalent period last year, in order to avoid waste of time by hotel staffs and food offices in applying for and allocating supplementary permits.

I am afraid that this, at the moment, is not practicable, because the eight-week periods for which returns were made last year cannot, in the nature of things, coincide with this year's allocation periods; but I intend shortly to consider with the industry whether we can find a better method for the future.

Does the Minister realise that we are very near the season when the population in the seaside resorts is, perhaps, trebled, and that this will mean an enormous increase in work both for the food offices and the hotels at a time when they are particularly hard pressed? Can he take some immediate action?

I am well aware of that The trouble is that I cannot divide 52 by 8; I should have to alter the whole system.

asked the Minister of Food by what authority civic restaurant authorities are undertaking the preparation, cooking and serving of meals otherwise than in restaurant premises open to the general public.

This is done through the powers of the Civic Restaurants Act, under which civic restaurant authorities may

"provide for the supply to the public of meals and refreshments and may carry on such activities as are reasonably incidental or ancillary to the services aforesaid."

Does the Minister consider that the Act he quoted gives the right to civil restaurant authorities to carry out catering for wedding receptions and private parties in the homes of private people?

I am advised that that is so, but if the hon. Gentleman has any ideas about a specific case perhaps he will submit them to me.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage of pure fruits was contained in jam in July, 1939; and what is the percentage now.

As the reply contains many figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is not it a fact that before the war this percentage was 95 per cent., and that now it is below 40 per cent.? Is the Minister also aware of the fact that the soft fruit industry has had surpluses which it has not been able to get rid of, and will he consider giving more sugar to the fruit canning industry so that we can use up our home grown fruit?

The pre-war jam standards had no statutory force. They represented a voluntary agreement in the industry. I cannot give more sugar to the manufacturers at the moment. I wish I could. If the hon. Gentleman has any further doubts after having examined my answer, perhaps he would put down another Question.

asked the Minister of Food when he proposes to increase the percentage of fruit content of jams.

I recently made an Order to raise the minimum fruit content of some soft fruit jams. It will come into force on 25th September for sales by manufacturers, and, at dates to be fixed later, for sales by wholesale and by retail.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what will be the new percentage as from September?

Not without notice.

Can the Minister say whether there is any rule which prevents jam manufacturers from using pure fruit and sugar, and nothing else?

Offhand, I do not know of any.

asked the Minister of Food what representations he has now received from the herring canning industry protesting against the advertising campaign in favour of imported canned brisling; and what action he proposes to take.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the herring canners in this country have protested against the advertising by his Department of imported canned brisling; and whether he will now put a stop to it.

I have received representations from the chairman of the canning section of the Food Manufacturers Federation and from the Herring Industry Board. I propose to say in my reply that this campaign is for "brislings" in general, not just "imported brislings." It will, therefore, benefit home canners of brislings and also of sild, which are baby herrings. The home canned herring industry will also benefit to some extent because the advertising will remind housewives of the usefulness of all kinds of canned fish at this time of year. The purpose of this brief campaign is to encourage the sale of merchandise already bought by my Department. We obviously cannot undertake campaigns at public expense solely to increase the sale of goods in private hands—that is a matter for private enterprise—but my Department takes every opportunity to emphasise the merits of fish.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that that answer will be received with great condemnation by the Herring Industry Board and the herring canners? Does he really feel that to use the taxpayers' money to subsidise, in the main, imported brislings as against the product of our own herring fisheries, is very helpful to those men who risked their lives for us during the war in minesweepers and the like?

In view of the recent mistakes which the Board made about my Department, I await their reproof with calm.

Is it the Minister's view that when his Department buys too much of any commodity it should be subsidised by the taxpayer to get rid of it at the expense of the home producer?

asked the Minister of Food what is the average period elapsing between the laying of an egg and the retail sale of that egg.

A fair average time would be about 2½ weeks.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that, before the war, there were a large number of eggs sold as newly laid, which meant less than seven days old, and is he not aware that the figure he has given to the House indicates that there has been an increase of time between the hen and the consumer, with generally disastrous effects on the egg?

I recall some of these eggs; the smell lingers in my nostrils even now. The point is that, short of having an inspector to watch every hen, I cannot guarantee that every egg we sell is, in fact, newly laid. The point we have to concern ourselves with is collection, and, as has already been said, the average time taken between the point of collection and sale is between seven and nine days.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the fault does not lie with the hen and that it is not necessary to have an inspector to watch every hen? The fault is in the time taken between the packing station and the consumer, and not between the hen and the packing station.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider licensing the primary producers in cases where they give an undertaking to supply the consumer direct?

If hon. Members on the other side want to go back on the marketing schemes, for the introduction of which they claim credit, that is another matter altogether.

Can the Minister say how he reconciles the period of between seven and nine days with the fact that eggs in increasing number are going to the grocers in a rotten, green and maggotty condition?

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered dealing with the matter by increasing the frequency of collection? Is he not aware that a very considerable part of the egg's life is spent before collection?

I think that is getting the thing down to sensible proportions. Bad eggs are no new phenomenon at all; they have always been part of our civilisation. If we could have some practical proposal to meet the requirements of the marketing scheme, with which hon. Members opposite would agree, and which would improve collection, I should be glad to consider it and do my best to carry it out.

asked the Minister of Food what quantities of eggs he has so far received from the Colonial Development Corporation's poultry project in the Gambia; and if they are now being distributed to consumers in this country.

None so far, except for a small experimental shipment last year.

This must be a great disappointment to the right hon. Gentleman. Was it not stated during the Colonial Affairs Debate that we were going to get some of these eggs in June?

I have no idea what the assurances were. We are examining a claim made that they are able to supply us with a reasonable quantity of eggs. We are going into negotiations; if they can supply eggs at a reasonable price we are prepared to take them.

Can the Minister say whether they will arrive in the United Kingdom less than two and a half weeks' old, and, if not, what steps he will take to prevent their deterioration to the musty standards of our home-produced eggs?

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements he proposes for the reopening of suitable private slaughter houses to facilitate the handling and conditioning of the anticipated extra cattle and sheep during the peak kill.

This problem will be considered by the seven area advisory committees which have been set up to advise about these Autumn arrangements. These committees represent the meat trade, the farmers' unions and the slaughtering industry. I am confident they will provide adequate plans.

Does the Minister expect to receive proposals from these bodies very shortly?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food if he has considered a case, of which details have been sent to him, in which a member of the public, after obtaining the weekly ration of meat on Saturday, 15th July, found it totally unfit for human consumption by Sunday, 16th July; if he will allow a free supplementary meat ration this week and what action he will take to correct this situation generally.

As the information sent to me by the hon. Member is not adequate, I would be glad if he could let me have further details. In general, we are prepared to replace any meat which has been condemned in a butcher's shop soon after delivery, but it would obviously be impracticable for us to undertake to replace meat after it has been sold to the consumer. We naturally expect the butcher to protect his customers by not selling meat unfit for consumption.

Is the Minister aware that this case concerns a very good butcher, who had to sell the meat he had delivered to him? Will he make it a rule that where butchers have to sell the meat which is delivered to them he will replace it if it is not good?

On the general position, I do not think I can go beyond what I have said. In this particular case, I would like to see the facts and see if there is anything that can be done to meet them.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that when I showed him a sample of bad butter, a short time ago, he destroyed it on his premises, so that I could not produce any evidence in this House against him?

asked the Minister of Food to what extent retail butchers are compelled to accept allocations of manufacturing meat of a quality suitable only for factory use.

The manufacturing meat which we allocate to retail butchers is of a quality suitable for them to use in making meat products; and if a butcher does not wish to use his allocation himself he can arrange to have it made up for him by a manufacturer.

Would the Minister give an assurance that if a butcher cannot use the meat he can get authority for canning it?

asked the Minister of Food why the supply of fresh home-killed meat to the butchers of Tadcaster has been stopped.

asked the Minister of Food why he has recently refused to allocate fresh home-killed meat to certain districts in Yorkshire.

The butchers concerned have refused to take fresh beef offals. This means that we cannot allocate stock to that district for slaughter, since there are serious practical difficulties in moving the offals to other areas.

By what authority does the right hon. Gentleman's Department deny home killed beef to butchers who refuse to take the offal which they cannot sell except at a very serious loss?

The trouble is that cows contain not only beef but offal, and we have to take some account of the economic value of the whole animal. If we have to send the offal to another district, we should, because of the very delicate nature of offal, make a loss; and, therefore, we have had to insist, since these butchers would not take offal, to reduce the supply of beef in order to have a fair arrangement for the distribution of these cattle.

But is the right hon. Gentleman aware that butchers cannot sell the offal at present prices?

Does the right hon. Gentleman's reply mean that his Department supplies beef from cows only?

asked the Minister of Food what progress has been made in the negotiations with New Zealand over the price to be paid for butter, cheese and meat.

I cannot yet make a statement about butter and cheese. On meat, we have agreed with the New Zealand authorities to postpone negotiations about prices for next season's production until September.

Does that mean that everything is satisfactory in our relations with New Zealand over these three commodities?

That is my hope.

asked the Minister of Food if he has now disposed of all his purchases of wines.

Yes, Sir, and I am pleased to say that the completed accounts show that, on the whole transaction, after meeting all expenses, my Department has made a profit of £75,901 on Algerian wine and £19,000 on Italian wine. With permission, I will circulate the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will my right hon. Friend bring these very satisfactory facts to the attention of the Conservative Party for use as speakers' notes, and also bring them to the attention of radio and music-hall comedians?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this Question came as a complete surprise to him?

Does the Minister's answer take account of the Algerian wine sold to the Kitchen Committee?

asked the Minister of Food when he contemplates a reduction in the extraction rate of flour from wheat in order to provide a whiter loaf.

asked the Minister of Food whether he now has any statement to make on the flour extraction rate.

We have decided to reduce to 80 per cent. the extraction rate of flour used for the national loaf. This will be made up of home-milled national flour with a rate of 81 per cent., and a proportion of imported flour with a lower rate. This change, which will take effect on Sunday, 27th August, will enable the public to get a whiter and more generally acceptable loaf, while still meeting the standards recommended by the Post-War Loaf Conference. It will also add to the quality and quantity of our supplies of animal feedingstuffs.

Does the Minister hold out any immediate prospect of a return to the 1939 standard, which was a little better than that announced now?

Let us take one step at a time.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the 85 per cent. extraction

It takes account even of that Algerian wine.

Was the right hon. Gentleman's Department moved by the profit motive?

This is our decision, and on it we stand. We have decided that it was possible to reduce the extraction rate at this point because of the high nutritional value of the extra amounts of other kinds of food which we are now able to supply.

Does this extraction rate have any connection with the rates mentioned in the previous Question, which is to be answered non-orally?

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether, if national conditions make it desirable that we should go back to the previous rate of extraction, that can be carried out in a reasonable time, and, if so, how long?

If it ever were necessary to go back on any decision of this nature, I should imagine that we could do the job within a week.

asked the Minister of Food what is the iron content of wheaten flour at the rates of extraction 85 per cent., 80 per cent. and 72 per cent.

This depends on the grists, that is, the mixtures of wheat. But typical figures for 85, 80 and 72 per cent. extraction rates are 2.1, 1.65, and 1.25 milligrams per 100 grams of flour.

In view of that answer, does not my right hon. Friend realise that a degradation down to 72 per cent. would bring with it a very serious risk of imposing anaemia on a national scale on the people of this country?

We are not proposing to go down to 72 per cent.; the proposal is 80 per cent.

asked the Minister of Food how much wheat is imported as flour; from which countries; and what is the rate of extraction.

In the 12 months ended 30th June, 1950, the quantities of flour imported were about 49,000 tons from Australia, 80,000 from the United States, and 374,000 from Canada. The extraction rate in the first two cases was 72 per cent., and, in the third, 72.58 per cent. The total quantity of wheat represented by these imports of flour was about 700,000 tons.

Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that wheat of low extraction rate will be used only for cakes and biscuits, and not for making bread, etc.? Can he also assure the public by advertisement that wholemeal bread is freely available and is subsidised in the same way as the other flour?

I have already said that the new national flour will balance the extraction rate of home milled flour with this low extraction rate from outside, and will make it 80 per cent. Outside that the extraction rate of 72 per cent. will go to cake and biscuit manufacturers for export.

Can the Minister say whether the people of the United States are suffering from the diseases anticipated by the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross)?

asked the Minister of Food when he expects to increase the tea ration.

I am afraid that an early increase is unlikely.

Can the Minister say when tea purchases will be returned to private hands?

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Food from what countries animal blood plasma used as a substitute for eggs is imported; what tests are made to ensure its fitness for human consumption; and whether he is satisfied that the slaughtering of animals for this purpose is carried out under proper supervision.

Imports so far have come from Denmark only, but small quantities are also expected from Holland later in the year. A veterinary certificate that the product is derived from healthy animals and that slaughtering was carried out under proper supervision, must accompany all consignments, and this stipulation is most stringently applied.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that since the recent increase in the petrol duty deliveries of bread are being suspended in some country districts; and what action he proposes to take.

I have not heard of any suspended deliveries of this sort.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman know that the maintenance of a single price for the whole country without the right to charge for delivery will result in many country bakers failing to make daily journeys?

We do, in fact, review the bread subsidy payments and such a review has recently taken place. In that review account was taken of the increased cost of delivery owing to increased petrol prices.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that one of the faults of the present signposting of roads is that a signpost to a town or village is often followed at the next road junction by a signpost which omits that town or village, or by no signpost at all; and whether he will correct this fault on his own roads and request highway authorities to do so on theirs.

Yes, Sir, and I am dealing with this in the general improvement of traffic signs on trunk roads. This fault is dealt with fully in the traffic signs reports, which I brought to the notice of highway authorities on publication.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take in regard to the representations made to him by the Ayr County Council and others for establishing suitable safety arrangements along trunk road A 77, adjacent to Prestwick Airport.

I have approved warning signs on the trunk road near the airport, and they will shortly be erected. Arrangements are already in force to control road traffic while aircraft are passing over the road at low altitude.

Is this recklessly rapid decision, after five months' delay, by any chance due to the fact that this Question appears on the Order Paper?

If it is, it justifies Parliamentary action.

asked the Minister of Transport what power he has to prevent the relaying of wooden blocks as a road surface.

I can withhold permits under Defence Regulation 55 for the timber required for new wood block paving, but I have no power to prevent the re-laying of secondhand blocks. Apart from this, I can only influence local highway authorities by way of advice, and, to a limited extent, through the administration of Road Fund grants.

Cannot the Minister extend his advice somewhat, because there is not much purpose in spending thousands of pounds in safety campaigns if lethal surfaces, such as road blocks, are allowed to continue?

We are making rapid progress in this connection. In the main, wood blocks are confined to London streets, and, as the hon. Gentleman is aware, on many of the roads being relaid in Westminster they are being done away with. I think we are making good progress.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has now come to a decision regarding a speed limit upon the trunk road through Castle Bromwich.

In view of the fact that accidents on this road show a tendency to increase, I have decided to impose a speed limit on the section from School Lane to Hurst Lane. I am having other methods to improve safety on this road examined, and will review the matter at a later date, as I am not entirely convinced that a speed limit is the best or the right remedy.

asked the Minister of Transport why there is no explanatory note on S.I. 1950, No. 963, Motor Vehicles Construction and Use (Amendment No. 2) Regulations, 1950.

It is not the practice to append an explanatory note to a Statutory Instrument the purpose and effect of which are readily apparent, as in this case.

Is the Minister aware that this Question would not have been put down if the meaning of this Statutory Instrument were apparent from straightforward reading? Nobody reading this Statutory Instrument could possibly know what it was about without turning up a lot of back references. Surely the whole purpose of an explanatory note is to make that unnecessary?

I should have thought that paragraph 2 was extremely plain and clear.

Paragraph 2 revokes certain things, but does not state clearly what the action is.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now reached an agreement with the Railway Executive in order that the work of reconstructing the Park Street Bridge at Selby may be begun.

I hope that the formal agreement with the Railway Executive for reconstructing the bridge will be completed in a few days' time.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that I first drew his attention to this matter as long ago as October, 1946? Can he say why there has been this appalling waste of time in dealing with the matter and, further, why the people of Selby should suffer this inconvenience in addition to that of the toll bridge?

There has not been an appalling waste of time. This is a very difficult and complex problem, and negotiations have to take place. There are many other schemes, equally vital, which are being postponed altogether throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he is taking within his powers under the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, in regard to the Reading-Newbury section of the Kennet and Avon Canal.

asked the Minister of Transport whether under the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, he will call for a report on the threatened closing of the Kennet-Avon canal.

The Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, gives me no power either to prevent the closing of this canal or to require it to be re-opened. This is a matter for the British Transport Commission subject to any statutory obligations resting upon them. As the hon. Members have been informed, the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive have the matter under consideration.

Does the Minister's answer mean that the British Transport Commission can abandon this section of the Kennet and Avon canal without Consulting the Minister or Parliament, or without seeking any representations from the people affected?

I should not like to say that they could just abandon it offhand, but certainly if the banks are dangerous or the cost is excessive, then the question of the future of the canal will come under consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware, first, that if it has not been abandoned off hand, in point of fact a large sum of money has been spent recently in building new gates at Wootton Rivers? Secondly, is he aware that if there is no power given him under the Act to close or keep open canals, it does give him power to do what I asked in my Question—to call for a report? Will he deal with that question?

I think the best plan is to wait until the Inland Waterways and Docks Executive, whose duty it is to consider these matters, have had the position thoroughly under consideration. I propose to await their report before I commit myself to any decision.

What will happen, meanwhile, to the livelihood of the canal carriers?

It should not prevent that from continuing. It will go on—

No.

If it does not, then that matter must be suspended until this investigation is completed.

Do I take it that the right hon. Gentleman will await the report, but is not willing to call for one? Is that the position?

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now arrange for the Traffic Commissioners to reply to the application made by the Heather Motor Services in May to run an experimental service from the 26th June to the 18th September along the Low Laithes Road, Hawsker, near Whitby, in view of the severe inconvenience it is causing the people of Hawsker not to have this service.

There has been no delay on the part of the licensing authority in dealing with this application. I am informed that it was received on 2nd June and published in the next issue of their "Notices and Proceedings" on 16th June. On being amended by the applicant it was published again in the next issue on 30th June. It is to be heard at a public sitting on 27th July, and the applicant was so informed on 18th July.

Can the right hon. Gentleman arrange matters so that it will not be two or three months before transport is available for the villages?

That is not the Question. The hon. Member asked me to look into the delay, and I have given him the dates to show there has been no delay.

But I also asked him if he would also see that these delays shall not occur.