80. Mr. THOMASasked the Minister of Food the prices at which the Ministry and 2290 the War Office, respectively, are purchasing and importing frozen and preserved meats from the various markets?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe answer is in the negative. I may, however, repeat the written statement made in answer to the hon. Member for East Grinstead on Monday last that the f.o.b. prices paid in the United States of America for meat purchased on behalf of the Ministry have ranged up to 26 cents per pound.
Mr. THOMASI do not quite understand the answer. I am simply asking is there any difference between the price paid by the War Office and that paid by the Food Controller, and, if so, what is the difference?
§ Mr. CLYNESI am not able to answer for the War Office, nor am I authorised to do so. I am only able to give the price paid for food purchased by the Ministry of Food.
Mr. THOMASIs the right hon. Gentleman in a position to say that there is no difference, and whether the civilian population is suffering owing to the competition in buying between the two Departments?
§ Mr. CLYNESI am able to say that the civilian population is not suffering. I have not the information from the War Office to answer the other part of the question.
Mr. THOMASWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries, and if competitive buying results in the Food Controller paying more than the War Office, will arrangements be made for pooling?
§ Mr. CLYNESI know, without making further inquiries, that no evil result of that kind is duo to any competitive buying.
§ Sir C. HOBHOUSEHas there been no consultation between these two Departments on so important a matter?
§ Mr. CLYNESYes, there is, in fact, co-operative buying.
§ Mr. ROCHCannot the right hon. Gentleman state whether the War Office or his Department buys cheapest?
§ Mr. CLYNESI have not the information from the War Office, and am not authorised to make any statement on their behalf.
§ Colonel WEIGALLIs it or is it not the fact that it has been the War Office who have purchased without consultation with the Food Controller?
§ Mr. CLYNESI am sorry I did not catch the terms of the question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Gentleman had better give notice of that question.
§ 82. Viscount WOLMERasked the Minister of Food whether it is the fact that Mr. S. J. Chilcott, butcher, of Tiverton, recently informed him that he had been supplied with cancerous meat which he had refused to accept; if so, what action he took in the matter; whether he was subsequently informed that the local food committee had closed Mr. Chilcott's shop on their own authority; if he can state under what Statute or Regulation this action was taken; and whether he has investigated the action of the local food committee in the matter?
§ Mr. CLYNESI understand that legal proceedings have been instituted by Mr. Chilcott in respect of the matters referred to in the question. I can, therefore, add nothing to the answer given to the Noble Lord on 30th October.
§ Viscount WOLMERAre we to understand that the right hon. Gentleman has taken no action in the matter at all?
§ Mr. CLYNESIt will be impossible for me to take action in view of the legal proceedings taken by the gentleman in question.
§ Viscount WOLMERAre we to understand that the Ministry of Food is not going to support butchers who refuse to take meat which is not fit for human consumption, and is prepared to allow the local food committee to close a butcher's shop on that ground, without sending down anyone to investigate the matter?
§ Mr. CLYNESThat conclusion must not be drawn. But legal proceedings having been taken by the man in question, I cannot make any further statement.
§ Viscount WOLMERWhy should the cost of the legal proceedings be thrown on the butchers; why cannot the Ministry of Food see to the matter?
§ Mr. CLYNESEven the Ministry of Food is not above the Courts of law.
§ Mr. LOUGHIs not the Ministry of Food in this matter in the position of the wholesale supplier, and should they not take at once the risk incurred in selling the article which they have supplied?
§ Mr. CLYNESIt ought not to be assumed that the Ministry of Food is not in sympathy with the man in question, but the legal proceedings having been taken, I cannot at present make any further statement.
§ Viscount WOLMERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that legal proceedings were taken only because Mr. Chilcott has been informed that he cannot get redress in any other way?
§ Mr. CLYNESI do not know the considerations which have prompted his action.
§ Sir E. CARSONWill anybody be prosecuted who handed over to this butcher the cancerous meat?
§ Mr. CLYNESThat is an element in the case which I, with my narrow legal understanding of these things, cannot go into now.