CAB129-37 — Page 10

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Printed for the Cabinet. October 1949

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C.P. (49) 201

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11th October, 1949

CABINET

CHRISTMAS FOOD BONUS

MEMORANDUM BY THE MINISTER OF FOOD

At this time of the year we normally announce the Christmas Food Bonuses. I am pleased that though I cannot, for the first time since 1944, recommend any increase in the sugar ration, owing to cuts in our import programme and the effects of devaluation, we are in a position to improve somewhat on the disappointingly low bonuses which were all we could manage last Christmas.

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2. Subject to supplies coming through as expected from the Argentine, we can provide a 6d. meat bonus at Christmas. We should also be able to manage an extra ounce of bacon for each of two weeks at Christmas in addition to the recent special bonuses.

3. I can also increase the domestic ration of cooking fat by one ounce each week for four weeks in December and provide a Christmas bonus of six ounces of sweets.

4. I have recommended separately that the tea ration should be increased from 2 to 24 ounces a week from the beginning of December. This is a convenient date as a little extra tea at Christmas is most welcome, particularly to the elderly. 5. Summarised, we shall be able to provide this Christmas, in addition to the ordinary rations :—

Meat: 6d. bonus. Bacon 2 oz. Cooking fats: 4 oz. Sweets: 6 oz.

6. I also propose to draw on a small reserve of manufacturing sugar to increase supplies of table jellies and candied peel, and to allocate extra supplies of sugar, fats and eggs to flour confectioners and biscuit manufacturers to increase supplies and improve the quality of cakes and to ensure a greater quantity of sweet biscuits.

7. Apart from rationed foods, Christmas fare, such as mincemeat, Christmas puddings and dried fruits, nuts, apples, tangerines and crystallized fruits should be, on the whole, distinctly better than last year.

8. I ask my colleagues to agree that I should announce at once the extra rations summarised in paragraph 5 so that distribution may go forward.

J. S

Ministry of Food, S.W. 1,

11th October, 1949.

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