68 and 69. Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) the total numbers of males and females employed by the Ministry of Food on the last day of each of the five months ending 29th February ultimo; what was the charge on public funds for such employment during each of those months? (2) What stocks of sugar, butter, wheat, flour, beef, mutton, and bacon were held by the Ministry of Food on the last day of each of the five months ending 29th February ultimo; what were the prevailing prices for those commodities paid by the Ministry of Food in those months; what were the prices charged by the Ministry to wholesale and other purchasers; and what was the monthly consumption of such stocks?
§ Mr. PARKERAs the answer is a long one, I propose to have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT
§ The following is the Answer referred to:
§ The total number of the staff of the Ministry of Food during the period mentioned is approximately 4,500, composed of males and females in almost equal proportion, and costing approximately £80,000 a month. One-fifth of the present staff consists of ex-service men. These figures show a reduction of approximately one-half since the date of the Armistice. For a staff thus depleted to 250 have to prepare the elaborate return as to stocks, prices and consumption asked for by the hon. Member would necessitate the neglect of more important and more urgent work. It is not, therefore, possible to give the detailed information sought; nor would it be advisable to state the stocks held or the prices actually paid by the Department. The necessary information as to the trading accounts may be gathered from the White Paper containing the Financial Report, the Appropriation Account and Balance Sheet which will be published in due course. I can, however, give the following approximate figures as to the rate of distribution in recent months of the stocks named in the question, as follows:
| Tons per month. | ||
| Sugar | … | 90,000 |
| Butter | … | 5,000 |
| Bacon | … | 25,000 |
| Wheat and Flour | … | 610,000 |
§ As regards beef and mutton, since the transfer of the control of imported meat to the Board of Trade, the Ministry of Food has acquired no fresh stock. The monthly consumption of imported meat is at present from 50,000 to 55,000 tons.