CAB129-37 — Page 502

Cimentative 3/11

(1.0pm)

✓

Page 502

258

IS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

SECRET

C. P. (49) 223

3RD NOVEMBER, 1949

CABINET

COPY NO.

31

CHRISTMAS FOOD BONUSES

Memorandum by the Minister of Food

At their meeting on 20th October (C. M. (49) 60th

Conclusions, Minute 4) the Cabinet decided that the Christmas increases in rations should not be announced until after the debate on the general economic situation. The Economic Policy Committee, at their meeting on 21st October (E. F. C. (49) 39th Meeting, Minute 4), decided that the announcement of the increase in the tea ration to 21⁄2 ozs. a week from lith December should similarly be deferred and made at the same time as the announcement of the Christmas issues.

2.

>

Arrivals of meat from the Argentine during October have been fully up to our expectations. We cannot be certain that there may not be an interruption in our supplies until we have achieved a satisfactory outcome of the current discussions with the Argentine. While it would not be wise to be over- confident, the prospect of reaching agreement with the Argentine, without any break in shipments, appears promising at the moment: in any case there is no doubt that we shall in the end, reach agreement. Unless there is such a break in supplies, it will be necessary (unless we are to charter still more ships as cold stores) to issue increased supplies of meat to relieve the pressure on cold storage. At worst, and even if the current negotiations with the Argentine cannot be con- cluded without a break in supplies, the amount of meat involved in the Christmas issue (11,000 tons out of 200,000 tons in store at the end of this month) would be insufficient to have much effect on the general position.

3.

I am being repeatedly pressed in the House to make the usual annual announcement: moreover, mid-November is the latest date on which the announcement can be made to ensure distribution in time for Christmas. I therefore ask my colleagues to agree to my announcing the Christmas increases, and the increase in the tea ration, in reply to a question in the House on 14th November.

Ministry of Food, S.V. 1.

3RD PAVEMEER of 1897

J. S.

Page 502