§ [4TH ALLOTTED DAY.]
§ Considered in Committee. [Progress, 2nd March.]
§ [Colonel CLIFTON BROWN in the Chair.]
§ Sir Henry Morris-Jones (Denbigh)On a point of Order. May I ask you, Colonel Clifton Brown, for your Ruling in regard to the character of the Debate which is to take place? I understand that it is to be a Debate concerning food production. May hon. Members be told whether they will be entitled, within the terms of this Debate, to discuss the questions of food distribution and rationing, as these constitute a very important element in connection with the consumption of food in this country to-day?
§ Mr. Gordon Macdonald (Ince)Would it not be better that these other aspects of the food question which, in themselves, call for a full day's discussion were left over to another occasion?
The Deputy-ChairmanThe first Vote which I shall proceed to put before the Committee is the Vote for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. For the convenience of the Committee and in order that reference may be made to it, the Ministry of Food Vote is also included, but although I would not desire to rule such references out of Order, it would not be desirable to extend the scope of the Debate to the question of food distribution. I hope I shall not be called upon to ask any hon. Member to refrain from discussing the distribution of food, but I suggest very strongly that we should confine our Debate to the question of food production without any extended references to distribution.
§ Sir H. Morris-JonesIn view of the fact that it is possibly the desire of the House that these questions of distribution and rationing should be dealt with on another occasion, may we take it that there is general agreement that to-day's Debate should be confined to food production?
The Deputy-ChairmanI do not know what the Government's arrangements are, but I rather think that another oppor- 1194 tunity will be given to discuss the question of food distribution and that ought to meet the hon. Member's point.