§ 29. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of American bacon there are in the London docks; if he is aware that the American Meat Trust will not allow tons of bacon to leave the docks, and, in consequence, tons of it are going rotten; and whether he intends taking any action in the matter?
§ Mr. PRETYMANInquiry is being made with reference to this matter, and the result of that inquiry will be communicated to my hon. Friend.
§ 31. Mr. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Departmental Committee appointed to investigate the causes of the rise in food prices will issue a series of interim reports covering individual commodities or groups of commodities?
§ Mr. PRETYMANIt will rest with the Committee to determine its own procedure. I will communicate my hon. Friend's suggestion to them.
§ 32. Mr. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state how much more bacon was imported to the United Kingdom for the first five months of this year than in the corresponding period of 1914; and if he can state how much more bacon was imported to the United Kingdom from America for the first five months of this year than the corresponding period of 1914?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe imports of bacon in the first five months of the present year amounted to 3,500,000 cwts., as compared with 2,200,000 cwts. in the corresponding period of 1914. The import is likely to be increased in the immediate future. Of these quantities, 2,200,000 cwts. in 1916 and 700,000 cwts. in 1914 were consigned from the United States of America.
§ Mr. THORNECan the hon. Gentleman give any reason why, although more of this was imported in 1916 than in 1914, it has reached such a tremendous price?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThis is one of many foodstuffs whose prices vary in sympathy with one another.
§ Mr. THORNEIs it not because the Yankees have almost entire control of the trade?
§ Mr. PRETYMANIt may be.
§ 76. Mr. GEORGE TERRELLasked the Prime Minister if he can state on what principle the Members of Parliament were selected to serve on the Prices of Food Committee recently appointed by the President of the Board of Trade; whether such selection was made with his consent; and whether he is aw7are that this Commitee is generally regarded as being onesided and unrepresentative of important public interests?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe members of the Committee were selected with reference to their capacity and suitability to take part in the inquiry indicated in the terms of reference, and their names have been received with very general approval.
§ Mr. G. TERRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that one important daily paper has referred to this Committee as a packed Committee?
§ Mr. HOGGEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that very great dissatisfaction exists because there is no member of the Kitchen Committee on this Committee?