§ 9. Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware of the difficulty of Dublin citizens in their efforts to secure supplies of milk for their children; and if, to remove the difficulty, he will issue an Order for the total prohibition of the export of milch cows?
§ Mr. DUKEOwing to the shortage of milk supplies in Dublin, some difficulty has been found in obtaining a sufficient quantity for the children of the poorer classes, but the Irish Food Control Committee have recently secured augmented supplies for this purpose, and the quantity available is expected to increase in the near future. The Food Control Committee, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, have come to the conclusion that it would not be in the interest of the country generally that the export of milch cows, which is now not to exceed 25 per cent. of pre-war periods, should be altogether prohibited. I would refer the hon. Member further to the answer I gave to his question on the subject on 5th February.
§ Captain SHEEHANWill the right hon. Gentleman consider whether it would not be the duty of the Food Controller to first see that the needs of the poor are supplied?
§ Mr. DUKEI think the answer I have supplied shows that the duty of the Food Controller has not been neglected.
§ 10. Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that at the recent Local Government Board inquiry held in Dublin in respect of land required for purpose of allotments it was shown that the rent of grass land in the neighbourhood of that city has doubled or trebled within the past three years; whether, seeing that in view of the controlled prices of agricultural produce this increased rent is likely to deter would-be cultivators, and constitutes a factor in the increased price of milk in Dublin, many of the cowkeepers having no land of their own, he can give any guarantee that these rents will not continue to rise or that a consequent upward revision of controlled prices of produce will not be necessary; and whether, in view of these considerations, he will take stops to control rent?
§ Mr. DUKEA statement to the effect referred to by the hon. Member was made by an officer of the Dublin Corporation at a recent Local Government inquiry. As to the rest of the question, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to questions by the hon. Member for North Kildare on 21st January.