§ 56. Mr. BILLINGasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of commandeering, under the Defence of the Realm Act, the accumulated profits that have accrued to food gamblers through speculation in food prices; and whether in that case he will consider the desirability of devoting those profits to a 1113 fund towards reducing the cost of essential foodstuffs to people in the poorer districts?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have been asked to reply, As has already been stated, the Government are giving their earnest attention to the question of undue profiteering, and will consider all practical suggestions for dealing with it.
§ Mr. BILLINGAre the Government prepared to take, under the Defence of the Realm Act, any money which any food gambler is known to have made? Are they prepared to do that or to consider that?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am answering for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food Control, who is unwell; and I am afraid it is impossible for me to answer supplementary questions.
§ Mr. BILLINGAs this question was addressed to the Prime Minister and it is a matter of policy, cannot private Members demand that they shall be answered by the Prime Minister? The whole thing is becoming a farce.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs the hon. Gentleman aware that companies like the Home and Colonial Stores have made over quarter of a million clear profit out of the food of the poor people in the last twelve months.