§ 21. Mr. J. MASONasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the price of basic slag is based on a flat rate for carriage of 12s. 6d. a ton, and is therefore the same whether delivered in Ireland or at a station near the works of production; and whether the result of this arrangement is that English consumers pay more by 5s. to 10s. a ton than if they paid the actual cost of transport, whilst Irish consumers receive a corresponding subsidy?
§ Sir R. WINFREYThe price of basic slag includes delivery in Great Britain or to a port in Ireland, but Irish consumers pay, in addition, the cost of delivery in Ireland from the Irish port.
§ Mr. MASONIs it considered to be in the national interest that English farmers should be penalised for the benefit of Irish farmers?
§ Sir R. WINFREYI do not think that the answer I have given conveys that. The Irish farmer always has to pay an additional sum for carriage from the port in Ireland to his land, wherever it may be.
§ 26. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the grounds on which the Ministry refused to register the Barry and District Co operative and Industrial Society, Limited, as retailers of fish; whether the local food control committee unanimously recognised the need for a well-equipped fish shop in Barrry and recommended to the Ministry of Food that the registration certificate be granted to this society; and whether steps will be taken to revise the previous decision of the Ministry?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Mr. Clynes)The refusal of this certificate of registration is being reconsidered. It was refused in the first instance because the Ministry were not satisfied that the existing channels of distribution were insufficient for the needs of the district, now that the supply of fish has been so much reduced under war conditions. Further inquiry is being made through the Divisional Food Commissioner.