§ 46. Sir JOHN BETHELLasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the present high prices of food and the difficulty experienced by retailers and consumers in obtaining supplies at fair prices, he will consider the advisability of the Government taking over all available stocks of food, all future importations, and the distribution of all foodstuffs through the present retailers on an equitable basis?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Bridgeman)I have been asked to reply. The Government will certainly consider the advisability of extending still further their control over the supplies of essential foods, though I doubt if this control could be extended as widely as is suggested in the question.