§ 28. Mr. ARCHDALEasked the Food Controller if he will state why the Food Ministry consider it still necessary to prohibit export of hides from Ireland to Great Britain except through selected markets and firms; and whether this handicap on outside firms can now be removed?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Mr. McCurdy)It is necessary for the present arrangement, by which hides exported from Ireland pass through a clearing house controlled by the Army Contracts Department of the War Office, to be retained until termination of the present 574 control of meat supplies under which farmers are guaranteed prices for live beasts. As, however, any Irish firm desiring to do so may export its hides through the clearing house at the controlled price, I cannot agree that the Regulations amount to a handicap on outside firms.