Butter and Meat

Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture, Fisheries and Food – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 21 Mawrth 1991.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Max Madden Mr Max Madden , Bradford West 12:00, 21 Mawrth 1991

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what improvements he plans to the scheme to distribute butter and meat.

Photo of David Curry David Curry , Skipton and Ripon

This year I intend to give preference to organisations capable of distributing products widely throughout their community and to groups of smaller organisations co-operating in the same locality.

Photo of Mr Max Madden Mr Max Madden , Bradford West

Will the Minister admit that his organisation of the scheme has been the target for widespread criticism? As organisations have to receive a minimum of 1 tonne of butter or meat, may I ask him to do everything possible to help with transport costs? Will he ensure that the butter and meat are available to the largest number of people, including all pensioners and not just those on income support?

Photo of David Curry David Curry , Skipton and Ripon

No, I will not. It would be ridiculous to try to distribute the food to all old-age pensioners. I can think of some old-age pensioners in the House who have no need of hand-outs from the taxpayer. It is much better for the food to be directed to the homeless, the destitute, those on income support, those on family credit and those living in hostels, as was intended. That is a much better solution to a rather bad scheme.