asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware of the serious hardships imposed on people engaged in manual labour, and the poorer classes in towns and cities, as a result of the present limited butter ration, particularly in view of the fact that substitutes are difficult and expensive to obtain; and if he will state if the position is sufficiently improved to permit of a substantial increase in the weekly ration of butter.

There is no immediate prospect of an improvement in butter supplies sufficient to permit of an increase of the present ration.