BRITISH CHEESE RATION

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26396, 14 April 1951, Page 7

BRITISH CHEESE RATION

NEW ORDER TO BE

MADE

(Rec. 7 p.m.) • LONDON, April IX The Minister of Food (Mr Maurice Webb) told the House of Commons that the Government proposed to make a new order to re-establish the cheese ration at 2oz a week. This, he said, would replace the original order reducing the ratton from 3oz to 2oz, which was annulled by an Opposition prayer on Monday night, when the Government was defeated by 18 votes. "There is only a limited source for rationed varieties of cheese, and we are already buying all that is available from the southern Dominions," he said. “There are no means of accelerating arrivals, but rather a risk that they might fall behind because of the New Zealand shipping strike. Taking the most hopeful view of probable arrival for some time ahead, and of current production at home, the supplies available will not serve to sustain a ration greater than 20z." Asked by Captain H. F. Crookshaftk if the Government was buying all the cheese in the southern Dominions .or only all the cheese available at the price the Government thought it should pay, Mr Webb replied: “We have undertaken to buy all the southern Dominions’ exportable surplus. It would not be proper publicly to reveal the figures of the stocks, but I will give the facts in confidence to the Opposition leaders."