asked the Minister of Food if he will inquire into the new process of producing margarine with similar characteristics as butter by using the same fats and oils used in making the conventional margarine, details of which have been sent him.

I have made inquiries and I understand that leading United Kingdom margarine manufacturers are well acquainted with this process.

In view of the fact that the Minister has said that butter is likely to become a luxury, will he do all he can to encourage the process in this country?

Yes, I most certainly will. This has also been very closely examined by the manufacturers in this country and I am told that there are certain characteristics which make it not too palatable to British tastes, but they are following up the matter very closely.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of fish landed at British ports this year has been sent to the glue works or turned into fish manure.

I have no information about the specific quantities of fish used for conversion into glue or fish manure. Some 14,000 tons of unsold and condemned white fish were processed into animal feedingstuffs in the period January to the end of May this year out of total landings of approximately 320,000 tons; also some 13,000 tons of surplus herring were converted into oil and meal in the same period.

Is it not well known that big quantities of fish that are brought into the ports do not get to the housewives? In view of the ineffectiveness of the White Fish Authority in this respect, what are the Government doing to see that more fish goes to the housewives at a cheaper rate, that the middlemen make profits less easily and that fishing grounds are not over-fished for the obtaining of fish meal and manure?

The proportions are not very high. The total is just over 4 per cent., and I am informed that a lot of that fish was soft-roed cod, which is not easily frozen and is not very popular. Taking the average quantity, the proportion is very much lower than that figure. In some months there is very hot weather and the figure is very much higher.

This is the third consecutive year in which large quantities of fish have had to be used for manure. Will the Minister take into account the fact that considerable foreign landings are still coming into Britain, that this process is still going on? When is the White Fish Authority going to show something for their year's work?

asked the Minister of Food when he expects that the agene process will be abandoned, and that all flour will be treated by some other form of improver.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 31st March to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross).

Is the Minister aware that it was stated in this House on 19th June, 1950, that it would take about two years and would cost approximately 337,000 dollars to import from the U.S.A. the necessary machinery and chlorine dioxide to complete the change-over to an alternative and a safer process for treating flour? As the period of two years expires this week, may we have an assurance from the Minister that he is pursuing vigorously that desirable policy which was initiated under a Labour Government?

If the hon. Member would refer to the answer which I gave in March last, he would see that it was to the effect that there was no unanimity as to the best alternative and that this matter has been very closely examined by the experts concerned. I said that in view of the complexity of the investigations and the amount of work involved, we could not possibly expect an answer before the end of this year.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend consider giving the public an opportunity of having pure flour for a change instead of all this rubbish of one kind and another?

The public can have a loaf of that sort now if they want it, but the fact is, whether we like it or not, that they prefer the other.

Is it not a fact that the 85 per cent. loaf is what really saved this country during the war, and why has the Minister allowed the millers to drift back to a policy of poisoning the nation?

I think that as a matter of fact the right hon. Gentleman might ask my predecessor why he did the same thing.

asked the Minister of Food what action he is taking to lessen the incidence of food poisoning.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. F. Willey) on 17th March.

Will the Minister inform the Prime Minister that many hon. Members would welcome legislation to supplement the Food and Drugs Act? Is he aware that there is a keen desire that our food should be wholesome and clean, and could not the Government do something useful?

I would say this to the hon. Gentleman. I am totally in agreement with him about the need for this legislation as soon as possible and, when we get the time, I am hopeful that we shall be able to bring it forward. While I think it necessary that we should do that as soon as possible, I would point out that in the long run education is the only real solution.

asked the Minister of Food, in view of a threatened shortage of milk, what decisions he has come to following the discussions between his Department and the dairymen on meet ing difficulties of distribution.

There is always the possibility of some shortage of milk in the autumn but, on present estimates, I do not expect that it would be more than temporary. The discussions which have taken place will be of assistance to my Department in making arrangements to ensure that supplies are distributed as evenly as possible.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that a spokesman for the National Dairymen's Association said recently that there is likely to be a severe shortage? Is that an overstatement? And if there is to be a shortage, can we take it that this year steps have already been taken so that there will not be the trouble we had, for instance, last year?

It is difficult for me, or anyone else for that matter, to say what the degree of shortage will be, but. from all the advice I can get, I do not think the shortage will be anything of a serious nature. One cannot possibly say what the shortage will be, but this sort of thing does happen in the autumn and occurred, not only last year, but before the war.

But if there is a shortage, whether it is serious or not, are steps being taken to see that supplies are distributed adequately?

Yes, definitely. Steps are taken to see that the supplies are distributed fairly. That has always been in mind, because difficulties of this kind do occur.

Can the Minister inform the House what implementation there is in connection with the shortage so far as the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and the slaughter policy in Scotland is concerned?

I am not clear that I follow the hon. Gentleman's question.

Will the Minister bear in mind the very close association between liquid milk and cheese, for the one is made from the other, a quart of milk being equivalent to 4 oz. of cheese; and that if we cannot have much of the latter, will something specific be done to see that liquid milk is in good supply?

asked the Minister of Food what action he is taking to implement the provisions contained in the Milk (Special Designations) Act, 1949, to protect the public against bovine tuberculosis and other milk-borne diseases.

The Milk (Special Designations) Act, 1949, is operative in Scotland. In England and Wales the appropriate statute is the Food and Drugs (Milk, Dairies and Artificial Cream) Act, 1950. Under these two Acts Orders have been made specifying six of the largest urban areas. Fourteen other major areas have already been surveyed for specification and 12 further areas are now being surveyed.

Is the Minister aware that when the Bill was discussed in Parliament it was understood that, because of the shortage of bottling plant, the Act could not be brought fully into operation before 1st October, 1954? Might I ask whether the necessary bottling plant is being manufactured at a rate which will ensure the Act being fully operative on the appointed day?

I should like to look into that point further but, as far as I am informed, the necessary plant is being manufactured.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent adequate supplies of fresh milk will be available during the winter months of this year.

Supplies of fresh milk should be sufficient to meet the demand for liquid consumption throughout the winter months, leaving a balance for manufacturing purposes.

In view of the grave doubts expressed by responsible persons in the milk trade about winter supplies of milk, will the Minister make it clear that he is prepared to ration milk supplies this winter if it becomes necessary?

I hope my answer will ease the mind of the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Food what factors have contributed to the current fall in the consumption of fresh milk.

Liquid milk consumption in the four weeks ended 31st May was 120.4 million gallons, less than 2 per cent. below consumption in the same period last year. This change is too insignificant to be attriutable to any particular factors.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the latest published figures show a fall of about one million gallons in the consumption of full price fresh milk, and that this is rather a disturbing matter?

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the representations made to him by the trade expressing concern about the decline in milk consumption by people in the lower income groups, he will review his intention further to increase the retail price of milk.

I have received no such representations from the milk distributive trade.

Is not the Minister aware that representations have at least been sent to Lord Woolton who promised that the matter would be looked into? Is this another example of co-ordination?

I do not know about that; I answered the Question on the Paper. I do not know about the communications, but that does not alter the answer that there is no significant change.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now re-introduce the points rationing scheme for tinned foodstuffs, the importation of which has been cut.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Gravesend (Sir R. Acland) and Wandsworth, Central (Mr. Adams) on 21st November, 1951.

But I understand that reply was in the negative. Is not the Minister aware that in a number of shops today there are notices on tinned goods saying, "Buy now, you will need them later," and that that puts people with spare money in a very favourable position? Will he do something to implement the policy of fair shares of scarce commodities?

The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the trade has much more experience now in distributing scarce commodities than in the past. If I may say so—and I am glad of the chance to say so—the trade has done that with fairness when they have had the responsibility for doing so. Let us be fair about that. So far as the points rationing scheme is concerned, at the present time I see no justification for it, particularly in view of the extra staff involved, not only by my Department but by the trade itself.

rose——

Is the hon. Member rising to a point of order?

No, Sir, I wish to put a further supplementary question.

I thought the hon. Member had asked his supplementary question.

I was going to ask the Minister again whether he will do anything to anticipate a shortage in these goods in the near future when the existing stocks get very low? I would agree with him that the trade has done nothing unfair in this distribution up to now.

asked the Minister of Food what further steps he proposes to take to prevent a black market in eggs, in view of the fact that housewives who can only deal in shops receive on an average only two eggs a week.

My enforcement officers are doing all they can to bring home to egg producers their public duties under the law.

Yes, but is the Minister aware that traders are getting cases of eggs and paying £10 a case more than the controlled price? Is he aware that there are some three million more laying hens this year than last year, and is he going to put a stop to the great black market that is going on?

I think the hon. Gentleman will agree that this is one of the most difficult problems of all. I would remind him that about one-fifth of the egg producers of this country are people owning 25 hens or less, and they can sell freely without restriction— [Interruption.] I am pointing out the difficulty. About 45 per cent. of the eggs go to the packing stations. I am not suggesting that this scheme is perfect, but when I tell the hon. Gentleman that the number of egg producers—I do not mean the hens; I am talking about the owners —are about 350,000, he will realise that this is a problem.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the way to do away with this black market is to allow a free market? Only then will the consumers in this country know the real value of the eggs.

Is the Minister aware that in many parts of the country egg retailers are selling their own registered customers as many eggs as they want, and that there seems to be something radically wrong with the distribution of the eggs legally on the market?

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that home-produced eggs increased by 450 million last year, but that none of these reached the public through his Department's grading scheme; and, as millions of eggs are disappearing before they reach the official stock records, what further action he proposes to take to break this black market.

My information is that several hundred million fewer eggs were produced at home last year than in 1950. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have just given to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Janner).

Is the Minister aware that the number of hens in this country last year increased by three million, and that the estimated minimum number of eggs which they produced was 450 million? May I also ask him whether, in the answer to the Question to which he has referred, he himself said that 55 per cent. of the eggs produced in this country did not reach the scheme, and would he do something about the matter?

I think the hon. Lady has gone a little bit wrong in her arithmetic. I mentioned that those who had 25 hens or less were free to sell what they liked. When the hon. Lady states that the number of home-produced eggs increased by 450 million, I must tell her that, in fact, they decreased by 720 million.

As there is definitely a great shortage of eggs in this country, is not the Minister aware that very large quantities of eggs and meat are going from Eire to Spain, and could he not make it attractive for that meat and those eggs to come to this country, instead of going to Spain?

I think the hon. Gentleman is mistaken. They are going to Italy, not Spain, and not a great number, either. I am bound to say that, so far as Eire is concerned, we have a very good arrangement with them and that they stick to it religiously, and it has operated very well.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that, in the very order of things, eggs are a volatile product, and that, until he sets the British hens free and gets rid of the system of nationalisation, the consumer will never get any eggs?

asked the Minister of Food whether the White Fish Authority has yet completed its scheme in respect of equalisation of transport rates for fish; and what advice was given the Authority by its advisory council.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford (Mr. Storey) on 22nd May.

Does that include a reply to the second part of my Question? I ask what advice was given to the Minister by the Advisory Council. Is the Minister aware that this proposal is wholly unacceptable to a great number of fishing interests in the country, and that my information is that the advice tendered by the Advisory Council was not to impose the transport rates as suggested?

I get advice from the White Fish Authority. The position at the moment is that the White Fish Authority have asked the railways and Road Haulage Executive to give certain information—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speak up."] The railways and Road Haulage Executive have been asked to undertake a comprehensive review, and this is what they are now doing.

On a point of order. Owing to the discourteous behaviour of certain Members of the Government Front Bench, it was impossible to hear the Minister's reply.

I heard it.

asked the Minister of Food if the seasonal allowances of tea, sugar, cheese and bacon made to farms workers, during the periods when they are working extra long hours, are being maintained at the same rates as last year; and if he has been able to agree a method of issuing these seasonal allowances direct to farm workers.

No change has; been made in the allowances. There have been consultations about the possibility of changing the method of issue and I am now considering the matter but, as my hon. Friend knows, there are great difficulties.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend bear in mind that the regulations regarding the issue of these rations fall particularly heavily on those employers who sometimes employ many hundreds of men for strawberry picking, and so on, and will he treat the matter as one of extreme urgency?

All these factors have been taken into consideration. The matter is being carefully examined now, but there are great difficulties involved.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an assurance that he will buy all the wheat which can be obtained from Commonwealth countries.

We cannot, for balance of payments and operational reasons, buy our wheat exclusively from Commonwealth countries. But we shall certainly continue to buy a very large proportion of our total requirements from these countries.

Is it not a fact that in the first four months of this year we spent nearly £20 million on wheat from foreign countries, including the United States? Can my right hon. and gallant Friend say what steps are being taken to obtain more from sterling area Commonwealth countries?

We hope very much that some of our Commonwealth producers will be able to increase their acreage. Indeed, that is their ambition, as has been indicated. I hope very much that it will come about.

What does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman propose to do to make it possible for some of the Commonwealth countries in the sterling area to increase their production? At present the Government are running a restrictive policy.

The right hon. Gentleman may not have seen that one of the areas to which he refers has declared a five-year plan under which a very large increase in wheat acreage is proposed.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consult the Governments of Commonwealth countries with a view to expanding the growing of maize.

The need for growing more maize and other cereals in the sterling area is already well recognised by all the Governments concerned. A Commonwealth Working Party was set up after the meeting of the Finance Ministers early this year to consider what could be done to increase cereals production, along with other food, feedingstuffs and raw materials. This body has not yet completed its work.

asked the Minister of Food what policy he has adopted in buying lamb from New Zealand.

Under an agreement signed on 14th February, 1952, we have undertaken to buy the exportable surplus of New Zealand meat, including lamb, or to permit its sale in the United Kingdom without restriction of quantity, for a period of 15 years.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that there is some confusion in New Zealand caused by the fact that his Department pays a premium for light-weight lambs, yet he is asking them to produce as much meat as possible? Can he make the policy clear?

That point is under discussion at the moment with the New Zealand Government.

Does this not show how valuable is bulk purchase?

asked the Minister of Food what loss his Department incurs in sending English potatoes to Wales for tockfeed; and why he does not sell them to South Wales fish fryers who would prefer to use them instead of Irish potatoes and would pay full controlled price for them.

About £9 per ton, including overheads. Most of these potatoes are sub-standard or in danger of early deterioration and unsuitable for use by fish fryers.

Does the Minister know that fish fryers in South Wales are ready to pay an additional price to him in order to get hold of these potatoes, which are not unsuitable for public use, and that that would be able to lessen the loss to his Department?

I have explained fully to the hon. Gentleman in a letter which I sent him the other day the difficulties involved. Under the guarantee in the 1947 Act we have to dispose of potatoes, especially from Northern Ireland. It is because of the heavy crop there this year that certain restrictions on the movement of English potatoes have been imposed. I do not think that this is such a hardship as all that, because only one-third of the potatoes consumed in South Wales come from Northern Ireland.

The Minister has written two letters on this subject. Is it not the position that the Northern Ireland potatoes, while very useful for some things, are not useful for frying? Why should they be concentrated in South Wales? Why should not the fish fryers of South Wales be able to get a fair share of potatoes from other parts of the country for which they are prepared to pay additional money?

I agree that the hon. Gentleman has had two letters from me. The second one was necessary because obviously he did not understand the first. There is no restriction on South Wales fish fryers buying potatoes from outside the restricted area in Britain. The restricted area could not be avoided because of the difficulties which arise this season in Northern Ireland. In any case, South Wales and the South-West of England are the traditional market for Northern Ireland potatoes.

asked the Minister of Food what representations he has received on the subject of slaughter facilities in the county of Kent; and, in view of the dislocation of the service caused by foot-and-mouth standstill orders, what action he is proposing to take to deal with the situation.

Representations have been made to me on this matter by the National Farmers' Union. To meet the situation we have temporarily reopened as many small slaughterhouses as possible, but whatever we do we cannot ensure that during outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease the purchase and slaughter of stock shall proceed as smoothly as usual.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that, during recent weeks, conditions have really been akin to chaos in many areas of Kent and that it has been represented that the reactions of his Ministry to the many representations that have been made on the subject have not been as swift or helpful as they might have been? Will he see that there is an investigation into the conditions on the spot?

While I very much appreciate the difficulties which farmers in this area are undergoing at present, I do not think that my hon. Friend is being quite fair in this respect. Obviously it is impossible to have slaughter-houses and expert staff to meet all the contingencies which arise from time to time. Nine new slaughter-houses are being built at the moment, six of which are in the South and East of Britain. One is being built in Canterbury, and it will be opened in October. We have been able to open six temporary slaughter-houses, which are doing something to relieve the congestion.

asked the Minister of Food how many pigs, at the last convenient date, had been notified as awaiting slaughter in the county of Kent.

The number of pigs at present said to be awaiting slaughter and held up by foot-and-mouth disease restrictions is about 2,700.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent the feedingstuffs coupons issued to farmers in the past six months have not been used; and if he expects to be able to do away with the rationing of cereals by the end of this year.

About 5 per cent. have not been used. I can see little prospect of derationing feedingstuffs this year.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend keep a very close and sympathetic eye on this problem because the sooner he can get rid of the rationing of cereal feedingstuffs the sooner he will get more pigs and poultry from small producers?

asked the Minister of Food (1) why the Brighton, Hove and District Butchers Association have been asked to take 800 imported mutton carcases per week throughout the summer season; whether he is aware that similar carcases have been to date causing complaints from purchasers as regards their condition and quality; for how many weeks this summer season will last; and to what extent this demand is being made throughout the United Kingdom on butchers associations in the same proportion to better types of rationed meat; and

(2) whether he is aware that the Brighton, Hove and District Butchers Association were forced to refuse this week, as wholly unsaleable, 138 imported mutton carcases of reconditioned meat; that the Wholesale Meat Suppliers Association promptly destroyed 30 of these carcases as being mildewed and spotty, but refused to replace the 138 carcases with other rationed meat; and whether he will investigate the position and arrange for saleable meat to be provided immediately in substitution.

Issues of imported mutton in all areas are unavoidable at the present time, but they will be reduced as the summer progresses. Butchers in Brighton will not be asked to accept anything like 800 carcases a week. I have taken steps to ensure that they receive no more than a fair share.

The mutton complained about was not reconditioned. It was, I am informed, refused unseen by the representative of the Brighton and Hove butchers after careful technical examination before offer. None of the carcases was destroyed. In the opinion of qualified experts the meat was suitable for the ration, and the question of replacing it did not therefore arise.

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend assure me that if we are not to get in Brighton so many carcasses as I mentioned in my Question, then the Butchers Association were misinformed on this matter? Also, can he give any indication for how many weeks this is likely to go on? Is he aware that we were informed that it was for the summer season, and does he realise that in a place like Brighton the summer season goes on for a very long time?

This position was due to exceptional circumstances. I will look into the point of how long it will be, but I do not think that Brighton will get any more than the normal proportion.

Can the Minister give an assurance that if Brighton refuses this meat because it is not good enough, it will not be sent elsewhere—for example, to my constituency?

I think that I can give that assurance.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he proposes to take to ensure that Australia's vital exports of food to this country are both maintained and expanded.

The maintenance and expansion of Australia's food exports to this country depend upon an increase in production in Australia which has assured markets here. I am in constant contact with the Australian authorities and particularly welcome, therefore, the programme of agricultural expansion recently announced by Mr. Menzies.

That is all very well, but is not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that, given proper opportunities, Australia is capable of supplying at least 100 million bushels more wheat a year, and, whatever may be the programme in the Minister's mind, has he not contemplated the fact that they cannot do it unless the capital equipment programme for Australia is arranged the right way? At the present moment, is not Australia being cut off from capital equipment, and, therefore, their food production will not increase?

I am not disagreeing with the right hon. Gentleman on that, but he will also agree that the immediate trouble at the moment is due to causes entirely out of our control and which have nothing to do with capital equipment—the drought and so forth— but the programme which was laid down for five years at the conference of Ministers at Canberra last April is one which aims at a very much bigger expansion of many agricultural products.

Surely, the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is not rightly informed? The fact is that the shipment of capital equipment to Australia is next to impossible. Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware of the fact that, although the drought which has occurred is serious, on the long-term view, what is required is that there shall be increasing shipments of capital equipment to Australia?

The right hon. Gentleman was so eager to put his next question that he has not understood what I said. I said that I agreed with the right hon. Gentleman about that, and I cannot say more than that.

What is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman going to do?

The right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that, after all, last April the people in the Government of Australia laid down this programme, which was mentioned by the Australian Prime Minister, and from there we go.

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend realise that the big principle behind all these questions is that, if he restricts consumption, he will restrict production, and, therefore, will he not take off all these controls tomorrow morning?

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now increase the fruit content of jam.

I hope to make an announcement within a few days.

Is the Minister aware that he has now had all the consultations and all the advice that he needs on the subject? Will he, therefore, for the sake of the British fruit growers, who are producing a record fruit harvest this year, and for the sake of the British consumers, who would like to see more fruit in their jam, agree that there is no case whatever against increasing the fruit content of jam forthwith?

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the fishmongers in Preston, Lancashire, paid 16s.per stone for cod fillets on 31st May, 1952, and for the same quality and type of fish paid 25s. 6d. per stone on 6th June, 1952; and, in view of this wide variance of prices in such a short time, if he will now reconsider his decision regarding the control of fish prices.

At the beginning of this month, with lighter landings due to stormy weather and increased demand, prices rose for a few days. They have fallen again this week as supplies have increased. I cannot agree that these circumstances justify the re-imposition of price control.

Is the Minister not aware that the people of this country cannot obtain from him a reasonable explanation for the terrific difference in the prices which they have to pay from one day to another, and that they believe that it is entirely due to the fact that there is a great amount of exploitation going on between the amount paid to those who catch the fish and the amount paid when it is eventually bought by the consumer?

I do not think I can agree with that altogether, because the people of this country are supposed to understand the sea, and, if they do, they would realise what it means to go out fishing in bad weather. It is not easy to bring catches home in bad weather, and that is a well-known fact. When the hon. Lady asks me a question about the price going up from 16s. to 25s., may I inform her that the price on the 10th June was between 10s. and 17s., which confirms what I have been saying?

asked the Minister of Food if he has now reached a decision about the setting up of an independent horticultural commission to reorganize and develop the fruit and vegetable trade.

No, Sir.

Is the Minister likely to reach a decision before the party opposite ceases to be the Government?

asked the Minister of Food whether he now has an announcement to make regarding the revision of the principles of allocation of scarce commodities from the system of allocation according to pre-war performance.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on Wednesday, 11th June.

I do not know what was the answer to that Question, but may I ask the Minister how far the discussions went between the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry and the Food Industries Council, because the position now is that the pattern of distribution has completely changed, and it is most unfair to a very large section of traders that this should be continued?

I agree with that; the hon. Gentleman's information is correct. The answer is that those concerned are being invited to express their views.

asked the Minister of Food what he estimates will be the total expenditure on food subsidies in the financial year 1952–53.

I must ask the right hon. Gentleman to await the publication of the revised Estimate of my Department.

But has not the right hon. hon. and gallant Gentleman any figure in mind as a basis on which he decides the changes in the prices of food? If he has such a figure, surely he can tell the House what it is?

I hope to let the House have it early in July.

asked the Minister of Food whether, as the figure of Is. 6d. per head per week for the price rise of subsidised foods, rationed and unrationed, was based on the best estimates at the time of the Budget of what our supplies of food would cost us during the year, he will make a statement on the increases announced some 10 days ago and their effect on this estimated figure of Is. 6d.

The figure of Is. 6d. per head per week related to subsidised foods and still holds good.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman really telling the housewives of this country that the cost of living has gone up only Is. 6d. per head per week this year?

The hon. Lady's question referred to food. The answer I have given is Is. 6d. per head, and that is the figure, which I see no reason to alter.

I am certainly referring to food. Does the Minister still maintain that the increase has been only Is. 6d. per head per week?

As a matter of fact, the figure has not yet reached Is. 6d. per week. I have got the figures here, and that figure has not yet been reached. Therefore, I repeat that the figure of 1s. 6d. on subsidised foods still holds good.

asked the Minister of Food how many rationed foods have increased in price since 1st November, 1951; how many have decreased; and what is the total effect of the price increases on the retail price index.

Four rationed foods have increased in price since 1st November, 1951, and two have decreased in quantity. Increases in the prices of bacon and cheese have raised the All Items Index by about 1⅓ points. The increases in the prices of meat and tea only became effective on 15th June and are not yet reflected in the Index.

Will the Minister circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of that answer, and will he consult with his colleague the Parliamentary Secretary who not so long ago said that output was proportionate to intake? There is going to be a very serious decline in output if it is going to be proportionate to intake.

asked the Minister of Food the total increase in price over the whole weekly ration since last October; and how the figure of 2¼d. per ration book was arrived at for the date of 30th April last.

The cost of the weekly rations today is about 8½d. more than the cost of the rations at 25th October, 1951. As a number of figures are involved in answering the second part of the Question, I will, with permission, circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the Minister say whether that includes the recent increases in the price of meat?

Yes, Sir. The hon. Gentleman's original figure was that as at 30th April, but the 8½d. includes the latest increases.

Will the Minister give an assurance that he will make no further

asked the Minister of Food whether in order that local organisations can make plans for celebration of Her Majesty's Coronation, he will indicate what special allowances of rationed foods are likely to be made available for children's street parties and similar functions.

The whole question is being considered. Arrangements already exist under which organisers of such parties could either employ caterers or themselves obtain tea, sugar and margarine on the normal catering scale.

Will the Minister say what, in that case, he means by the fact that arrangements are being considered? Are extra allowances going to be available for the Coronation period?

The hon. Gentleman probably knows that local autho-

I gave an undertaking in answer to a Question some time back to see that the two things should synchronise as far as possible, but, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, it is difficult to arrange for this to be done in every instance.

Is the Minister aware that since he gave that answer he has raised the price of meat, which is a complete violation of that undertaking?

The right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that these increases were announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor in his Budget speech.

asked the Minister of Food if his attention has been drawn to recent revelations that, in this country, a technique is being practised by using an electrical device to produce white meat from live horses; and if he will take steps to bring to an end this trade.

asked the Minister of Food if his regulations permit the use of electric pumps to drain the blood from horses in slaughterhouses after they have been stunned.

The responsibility for enforcing the Slaughter of Animals Acts rests wholly with local authorities and not with my Department. The Food and Drugs Act prescribes the conditions under which horse-flesh may be sold for human consumption. I rely on local authorities to enforce these provisions—which I think are adequate. I propose, however, to help them by requiring horse slaughterers to notify their local authority of their intention to slaughter.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend take steps to inquire whether this matter could be investigated by a Government agency instructed to report to him or to the appropriate Minister concerned and thereby to the House of Commons? Has he no statutory power whereby he could forbid this vile and most barbarous form of slaughtering which consists of first stunning the animal and then by an electrical device extracting the blood from its body in 15 minutes?

I am sure my hon. Friend will appreciate that that is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government, but I will certainly get in touch with him on it.

Will the Minister say whether the practices referred to in the Questions are really happening in this country?

I gather so from what I have heard, but, as I just told my hon. Friend, I will ask my right hon. Friend to inquire into the matter and see what happens.

May I ask the right hon. and gallant Gentleman whether he has studied the articles published in the "Manchester Guardian" on this subject and whether, in considering an approach to his right hon. Friend, he will bear in mind that we are not going to let the matter rest here? This House will not rest content until this vile practice stops.

While recognising that the responsibility rests with the local authorities, has my right hon. and gallant Friend no power whatever to inspect and find out for himself what is happening?

The whole question of the slaughter of animals is laid down by statute—I think it was the 1933 Act—and there has been an amendment to it since. That Act lays down how animals must be slaughtered and, as long as the Act remains what it is and is not contravened, there is nothing that can be done until it is either amended or there is fresh legislation. But, as I have told the House, I will get in touch with my right hon. Friend on the subject.

Is the Minister implying that the practices referred to in the Questions are at present legal, and are we to understand from the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's previous answer to a supplementary question that if he thinks these practices are taking place and that they are legal he will take legislative steps to deal with them?

I do not know whether all this is legal or not, but I do know that stunning is referred to in the Act. What we have to satisfy ourselves about is that it is properly done. I can do certain things on that, but, as I promised the House, I will get in touch with my right hon. Friend to see what can be done.

asked the Minister of Food if he is now able to make a statement with regard to the number of fat stock shows at which he will permit auction sales on the lines of the sale at the Smithfield Club Show in 1951.

As an experiment, arrangements rather similar to those made last year will be extended to established Christmas fat stock shows generally and any show committee wishing to participate should make application to my Department before the end of July. I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the announcement on the details as soon as it is made.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that his announcement will be very greatly welcomed by the fat stock breeders of this country, and that it is another indication of the determination of the Government to set the people free?

asked the Minister of Food what is the weekly amount now being paid to the butchers to recoup them for loss of business through meat rationing; and how many pence does this work out per weekly ration.

I take it that my hon. Friend refers to the system of rebates and surcharges on wholesale prices of meat to regulate the profits earned by the retail meat trade at various ration levels. The current rebate amounts to about £260,000 per week or rather more than Id. per ration.

asked the Minister of Food what surpluses of sugar exist in this country which can be distributed for preserving fruit.

None, Sir.

Can the Minister say whether it is a fact that a large quantity of sugar is being exported from Britain and the Colonies to other Western European countries for the making of fondant which is then returned to this country and sold for the making of sweets at a very much enhanced price? If this is a fact, will he not stop it in order to enable the sugar to be used in this country for the preservation of food?

When we took things over that was indeed so, but we have taken steps to put an end to it.

asked the Minister of Food if he will now make a statement on the negotiations for the supply of meat from the Argentine.

The negotiations were suspended during the inauguration of President Peron and have not yet been resumed.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that as long ago as April, "The Times" called attention to the fact that this was the longest delay there had ever been in starting these negotiations? Will he do his utmost at least to get them started?

I will repeat what I said to the hon. Gentleman some time ago, which is that I hope I shall improve on the record of my predecessor.

Will the Minister say how many private traders have so far gone out to buy the meat?

asked the Minister of Food what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Meat Inspection.

A revised memorandum of methods and criteria of meat inspection will be issued to local authorities in the near future. Draft regulations are being prepared and the representative bodies concerned will be consulted in due course.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the increasing, number of pigs available for early slaughter, he will make an addition of pork to the meat ration and an addition to the bacon ration.

Bacon factories are working to their full curing capacity and additional pigs are already being taken into the meat ration.

Yes, but will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the necessity, in view of this very substantial extra availability due to Labour planning, to see that this goes to increase the meagre rations and not to the West End restaurants in an effort to set the people free?

I cannot agree with the last part of the hon. Gentleman's observation; I cannot agree that was the intention of his colleagues in increasing the pig population. The fact of the matter is that the bacon production in this country is much higher, but, of course, pork availability is very much less.