§ 63. Mr. MARRIOTTasked the Prime Minister whether the provisional trading account of the Ministry of Food for the year ended 31st March, 1919, would be published and made available for Members of the House before the Vote for the Bread Subsidy was taken?
Mr. ROBERTSI have been asked to reply. The provisional trading account which gives the estimated financial results of the working of the various Departments of the Food Ministry is in the printers' hands, but, owing to the holidays, its publication cannot be promised before next Wednesday. I may point out, however, that the accounts in respect of cereals and sugar will not be included in this return, as the trading accounts of the Royal Commissions on the Wheat and Sugar Supplies have always been kept separately.
§ Mr. MARRIOTTMay I ask whether it is proposed to take the Vote for the bread subsidy to-night before these accounts are published?
Mr. ROBERTSThat is not a matter under my control. I have not yet been requested to regulate the business of the House.
§ Mr. MARRIOTTI put this question to the Prime Minister and not to the Food Controller.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONMay I ask the Leader of the House whether he is going to ask the House to pass this Vote without the necessary information being at its disposal?
§ Mr. BONAR LAW (Leader of the House)I think there is some misunderstanding. The Government agreed to give a certain number of allotted days. It was left to those who were interested to select the subjects. In any case there will be an opportunity on the Consolidated Fund Bill to discuss this.
§ Major COURTHOPEMay I remind the Leader of the House that repeated demands have been made from all quarters to get some of this information, and that all those demands have been unanswered?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI do not think we could do more as regards the time of the House. That is all I am competent to deal with now. I understand that this subject could be discussed on the Consolidated Fund Bill.