§ 65 Mr. LOUGHasked the Food Controller (1) with regard to the price to be paid to the producer for milk, whether the rate applies to all parts of the United Kingdom; if it is a maximum rate and obligatory on producers; and whether any penalty is incurred by selling at a lower rate?
2669 (2) whether he is aware that coffee bought at the lowest price now ruling on the London market costs 1s. 7d. per pound, whereas he has fixed a compulsory retail price of 1s. 6d. in all shops throughout the Kingdom; whether his Department was approached by the home trade section of the London Coffee Association some six months since and asked to fix a wholesale price for superior Santos which would allow retail sales to continue at the price he had fixed; why he did not adopt this course; and whether he will now fix such a price for superior Santos coffee, giving the legitimate trade an adequate notice, seeng that there are forty weeks' stock available for the requirements of the country, and that the high prices have been mainly caused through outside speculation; and
(3) whether his Department have issued a notice that the existing control of the tea trade will be continued until the 25th January, when a new system will be introduced for the succeeding six months; and whether the trade is to understand from this notice that the Government have decided that the importation and distribution of tea is to remain in the hands of the Food Controller until this period terminates, irrespective of whether the War is concluded?
§ Major ASTORThe answers to these questions were printed in Tuesday's OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. LOUGHCannot I have the answer made verbally, seeing that proper notice has been given in the House?
§ Major ASTORI could add nothing to the answer given.