§ 66. Mr. MARCUS SAMUELasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the recent Soviet decree under which the co-operative societies in the large Russian towns have been abolished; and whether any compensation has been, or is to be, paid to shareholders or any other interested persons?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Viscount Cranborne)I presume my hon. Friend refers either to the Decree of 26th September last, abolishing the system by which food was distributed in return for ration cards at special shops attached to factories, etc., or to the subsequent Decree of 29th 233 September last, by which the remaining co-operative stores in the towns were transferred from the control of the Central Co-operative Organisation to that of the Commissariat of Internal Trade. In either case, as I understand the position, there could have been no question of paying compensation to shareholders, all the organisations concerned being State institutions in one form or another.
§ Mr. SAMUELHas the Noble Lord any information as to whether these cooperatives were stopped owing to profiteering, or bribery and corruption?
§ Mr. GRIFFITHSIs it not a fact that they have now ceased distributing margarine?