§ Mr. J. P. Morrisasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether any arrangement has been made for the remuneration of the grain trade for the services which members of the trade are rendering in the importation and distribution of cereals during the war?
§ Mr. BoothbyYes, Sir. The National Federation of Corn Trade Associations have accepted an offer which my Noble Friend recently made to the negotiating committee appointed by the federation. A formal agreement is accordingly being prepared which will provide that firms in the trade will place at the disposal of the Ministry of Food the services of their principals, staff and offices as well as the staff and offices of Port Corn Trade Associations, in return for which the Ministry will pay to the federation for subdivision among members of the trade a sum equivalent to 2s. 7½d. per ton of all wheat and other cereals imported into the United Kingdom on account of the Ministry of Food, subject to a maximum payment of £1¼ million in respect of the first year of war. This agreement will apply to the first year of war only. The arrangements to be made in respect of any subsequent period are under consideration.