§ 4. Sir ARTHUR FELLasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the officials of the defunct Food Ministry are sending out circulars and forms to tradesmen requiring them to give minute detailed returns of all the motor vehicles they own, what they carry in them, what drivers they employ, and other particulars which will cause great trouble to supply; that indignation is being expressed at the waste of time involved in making these returns; what use will be made of these returns; and at what date will the activities of the Food Ministry and its officials cease?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe Food Department have called for returns in view of the duty laid upon them of providing transport for foodstuffs in the event of an emergency. 864 I am not able, at the moment, to say when the work of this Department will be finally concluded.
§ Sir A. FELLWhy should they not have been sent out a long time ago? These notices were sent out only last week, after three months' coal strike?