§ Mr. HUGH LAW(by Private Notice) asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether any definite allocation has yet been made to Ireland of machinery for the manufacture of potato flour and farina, and what is the earliest date at which such machinery can be made available?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe first fifteen potato flaking or flour plants manufactured have been already allocated to Ireland, and two farina plants are being reserved for Ire- 1139 land. It is expected that these plants will be installed and in working order in good time to deal with the 1918 main crop.
§ Mr. JOHN O'CONNOR(by Private Notice) asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether consignments of Irish potatoes for British consumption have been held up owing to defects in the arrangements for distribution; whether he has considered the advisability of appointing Government agents at ports of arrival to supervise the action of the local committees, so that such dealers may obtain their fair share; whether compensation will be paid to merchants in Ireland who have suffered loss through deterioration of stocks consequent upon failure of arrangements for distribution?
§ Mr. CLYNESI dealt at some length with the points raised in the first and third parts of this question in my reply to the hon. Member for Mayo on 18th March. I then stated expressly that the Food Controller would be prepared to consider claims for compensation in respect of any losses due to delay in shipment. With respect to the second part, the Food Controller has no reason to suppose that the small wholesale dealers are not receiving their fair share of imports, but if the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any complaints that ho has received I will inquire into them.