§ 74. Sir ALFRED YEOasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the Dried Food Controller is by profession a barrister; that his advisory committee consists of members of the Dried Fruit Association, and that 50 per cent, of them are members of one and the same firm; that any advice given by large operators is vised and considered by this advisory committee; and that the advisory committee recommended, and such recommendation was acted upon, Greek gentlemen to act for the British Government to buy Greek currants, and that one of these buyers had his brother in Greece acting as a selling contractor?
§ Mr. McCURDY:The Assistant Secretary in charge of the Provisions and Miscellaneous Foods Division of the Ministry is a barrister who has rendered excellent administrative service during the War. The officer responsible, for the direct ad ministration of dried fruit supplies was a gentleman with wide experience of the trade. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. No firm is represented on this committee by more than one member. All suggestions are duly weighed from whatever quarter they may proceed. In 1917 a Commission consisting of four gentlemen was sent to Greece to purchase currants on behalf of the Minister of Food. The British Consul at Patras was appointed an additional member before the Commission reached Greece. One member of this Commission was a Greek subject, the remaining four being British subjects. A brother of the Greek subject, to whom T have referred, is a currant shipper in Greece, but the member of the Commission had no interest in the firm.
§ Sir A. YEOIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the arrangements carried out as mentioned in this question mean £12 to £14 per ton to the consumer, which would be saved if they had people in the business who understood it?
§ Mr. McCURDYNo, T am not aware of that. I should be glad to make inquiries, 1793 if my hon. Friend would furnish me with any information to substantiate the statement made in his question.
§ Sir A. YEOYou can find that information in the City of London to-day in five minutes.
§ Major HOWARDWould the lion. Gentleman see that in future, in order to save misunderstanding, these committees sit in public and have their proceedings reported?
§ Mr. McCURDYNo, Sir. I do not think it would be possible for me or any Minister to give an undertaking that the multifarious Departmental Committees constantly sitting from day to day to ad- vise Ministers upon matters, which are really minor matters, should be given publicity.
§ Major HOWARDAre we to under- stand that this hole-and-corner business, which was necessary during the War in order that information should not be conveyed to the enemy, is to continue during peace?