§ 14. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Colonial fruit importers endeavoured to promote a sale room or market for Colonial fruit at the docks of the Port of London Authority, and that such sales have been stopped by the City of London as a market authority under an old charter; and whether he will inquire, in the interests of the consumers who desire cheap fruits and Colonial growers and importers who wish to increase the trade, whether such fruit can be sold directly it is landed from a ship without the expense of carting it to City and other markets miles away?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY OF FOOD (Mr. McCurdy)I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part is in the affirmative; it is understood, however, 6 that the objection to the establishment of a sale room at the docks was raised by the lessee of Spitalfields Market. The Departmental Committee on the Wholesale Food Markets of London will issue an interim report on the whole question of London markets in the course of a few days. The question of providing additional market facilities is being examined by this Committee and will form the subject of a further report at an early date.