FOOD CRISIS IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26576, 12 November 1951, Page 7

FOOD CRISIS IN BRITAIN

“Stocks Below 1941 Level”

LONDON, November 9. The Minister of Food (Major Lloyd George) told the House of Commons to-day that Britain's food supplies were in the same dangerous position as they were in 1941.

“Argentina is not sending the quantity of meat we would like, and we would welcome much more butter from Australia,” he said.

Major Lloyd George said that any reasonable hope of keeping the meat ration at the present level of Is 5d a week must depend on certain assumptions. "The first is that we should not be disappointed in our expectations from Australia.”

The second important factor was that Britain could not be absolutely sure that Argentina would be able to provide the 200,000 tons of meat she had agreed to ship before the end of April.

Major Lloyd George said it had been hoped that by now Britain would be receiving much more sugar from the Commonwealth, but for reasons beyond the control of the Commonwealth producers—mostly climatic — available supplies were less. “We shall continue to take, at least for the next two years, every ton of sugar the Commonwealth producers can offer us,” he said. “we shall still need large quantities from other sources."

The Minister said that there may have to be some reductions, in rationed foods. “The situation in which we find ourselves is serious, but I am confident that our people will face this grave position with their customary courage and resolution.” Money Shortage If additional supplies of meat could be found elsewhere than from the present sources, financial stringency would probably prevent Britain buying from them, said Major Lloyd George. The same applied to butter and rationed cheese. Leaving out the food which had been stockpiled for strategic reasons, he had found since coming to office that the nation’s stocks of wheat, flour, margarine, cooking fats, sugar, and butter were all well below the dangerous level of 1941. These were only a few examples. Mr Maurice Webb, the Minister of Food in the previous Government, said he was not sure that the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr R. A. Butler) had done right to make food the first and most stringent of his cuts. Mr Webb said he would have preferred to see cuts in tobacco and petrol imports first, also cuts in foreign wines, spirits, and films. It seemed unthinkable that the housewife should be harassed still further when tobacco and petrol for pleasure travel were left' completely untouched.