Series: Papers 1(40) - 69(40)

A file of memoranda from the War Cabinet's Food Policy Committee. Subjects covered in the documents include the status of stocks of key food items including meat, dairy, cereals, sugar, and tea; supplies of animal feed, including concerns over rising prices and distribution issues; and the ploughing-up campaign, which is aimed at turning more land over to agricultural use. Further topics covered include the work of the Ministry of Supply's Salvage Department to tackle waste in the food industry; proposals to introduce rationing for servicemen; and a decision to limit the production of whisky and other spirits due to a shortage of cereals. The documents also cover concerns over the shortage of agricultural labour; and suggestions for various civilian and military schemes to be introduced to address the issue. Suggested sources of agricultural labour include the Women's Land Army, schoolboys, gang labour, the industrial unemployed, refugees, prisoners of war, and conscientious objectors.