FOOD SITUATION IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 8, 4 October 1941, Page 8

FOOD SITUATION IN BRITAIN

A Great Improvement SERIOUS ANXIETY AT ONE TIME (British Oflicial Wireless.) (Received October 3, 6 p.m.) RUGBY, October 2. In a statement in the House of Commons on the food situation the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, Major Lloyd George, said that af one time shipping losses-had become so serious that real anxiety had been caused as to the supply of staple commodities. “I. am glad to be-able to reassure tlw House regarding, the position of -these' commodities,” he said. “We are in practically every instance better off not only than last year and the year before, but in some cases better off than before the war.

“No one can possibly foretell what the future has in store for us, but whatever the trials may be we can at least say this that we are at this moment in a 'better position to withstand those perils than we thought possible a few months ago.” Assistance From America.

Major Lloyd George said the improved -position in the Atlantic made it possible to concentrate on supplying things which had been absent for so long, and this, couplied with generous assistance from the United States, enabled the difficult question of unrationed'foodstuffs to be dealt with. An important extension would be introduced in the middle of November which would reduce the difficulties not only of housewives, but also of canteens. The position of the reserve of essentials was highly satisfactory considering that Britain was in the third year of the war,- and considering the intensity of the attack which _ had. been made. Although it was inevitable that the population must go without many things it had been accustomed to before the war, Britain was the only belligerent country that at the beginning of the third year had increased its rations.

The British meat ration, he said, was increased at about the same time that the German ration was decreased, and the cheese ration had also been increased. From the middle of November the weekly fat ration would be increased from eight ounces to 10 and sugar from eight ounces to 12. Extra Rations For Some.

Though the Government intended to continue its policy of distributing domestic rations equally throughout the country the policy of providing extra for special classes of workers would be carried out by increasing the number of canteens and British restaurants through which the extras would be distributed.

About 12,000,000 meals were already being served outside of homes every day and the canteens were serving a most important purpose in national life.