§ 66. Mr. CARTLANDasked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he can give any estimate of the amount spent in this country in retail shops last year in the purchase of foodstuffs.
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRAIJE (Mr. Runciman)No official information is available.
§ Mr. CARTLANDDoes not my right hon. Friend think it essential that we shoe d have these figures if we are to have any sort of national food policy?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, Sir, I think our food policy can be pursued quite well in the absence of these figures.
§ Mr. BENJAMIN SMITHWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of asking the House to pass an Act to secure that there shall be a census of distribution automatically year by year?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThere is a question on that subject further down on the Order Paper.