HC Deb 13 August 1919 vol 119 cc1538-9

The powers of the Board of Trade under this Act shall, in relation to articles of food to which this Act applies, be exercised jointly or in agreement with the Food Controller.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

On behalf of my hon. Friend the Member for Edgbaston (Sir F. Lowe), I beg to move, after the word "food" to insert the words "or drink."

I do not think this needs any explanation, especially at this hour.

Amendment agreed to.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

I beg to move, also on behalf of my hon. Friend the Member for Edgbaston, to leave out the words "jointly or in agreement with," and to insert instead thereof the word "by."

Earl WINTERTON

I should like the Government to say something about this Amendment. We have just agreed to an Amendment which I understood the Government opposed. Are they going to support this one?

Lord R. CECIL

This Amendment will not do at all. It is evident that you cannot suddenly put in the Food Controller as a person exercising the powers of this Act. You must leave it to the Board of Trade to exercise the powers, very likely in agreement with the Food Controller

Sir A. GEDDES

I do not think I need add anything to the explanation given by the Noble Lord the Member for Hitchiu He has put the point exactly.

Amendment negatived.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

beg to move, to leave out the words "or in agreement."

I think this Amendment will be rather clearer. Its effect, of course, is that the control of food and drink shall be exercised jointly with the Food Controller. I hope the right hon. Gentleman will accept that.

Mr. ACLAND

Have we not, in negativing the previous Amendment, agreed that these words shall stand part of the Clause?

Amendment negatived.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill."

Earl WINTERTON

I should like to ask whether the Government are really in favour of this Clause. The hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull moved an Amendment to include drink as well as food, and the Government never said whether they were in favour of it or not. Are they in favour of the powers of the Board of Trade under this Act in regard to articles of food and drink being exercised jointly or in agreement with the Food Controller? I think we ought to know what is the Government policy on this matter.

Sir A. GEDDES

As the Noble Lord wishes to know what is the policy of the Government, the real answer is that it does not matter in this case whether the word "drink" appears or not. If the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull cares to have the word "drink" inserted, the Government have no objection, and so we accepted it.

Question put, and agreed to.