§ 43. Captain WRIGHTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether special permission was given to certain and, if so, which wholesale and their allied retail firms in Smithfield Market and elsewhere, and to these firms only, to sell meat on Friday, 8th March, 1918, without the production by purchasers of meat coupons; and if this special permission was given in consequence of action by the American importers in putting upon the market a large amount of meat after their demand for an increased price of Id. per 1b. had been refused?
§ Mr. CLYNESNo retail business is at present conducted in Smithfield Market, and, consequently, coupons are not required there. With regard to the question of the retail sale of meat without 807 coupons by firms outside the market, the Food Controller has no reason to suppose that any such permission as that referred to was granted, though such action is within the powers given to local food control committees in order that waste of meat through its becoming unsaleable may be prevented. The suggestion contained in the second part of the question with regard to the action of the American meat importers is entirely without foundation.