28. Mr. De la Bèreasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the firm of cargo superintendents; who oversee the condition of the wheat in store, and who were appointed by the Food (Defence Plans) Department on the advice of the Committee assisting the Department, are a British firm; and whether the superintendents are British-born subjects?
§ Mr. StanleyThe reply to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.
35. Mr. De la Bèreasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the unsatisfactory working of the Government's wheat stocks in connection with emergency reserves, he will take steps to amend the Essential Commodities Reserves Act, with a view to ensuring satisfactory working in future?
§ Mr. O. StanleyNo, Sir. I do not accept the premises of my hon. Friend's question.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that these three large combines still go on holding a monoply, and that the corn trade is gravely dissatisfied; and has he not, in fact, been making promises to the corn trade, and do we not all hope that the corn trade will insist on those promises being carried out?
36. Mr. De la Bèreasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that they will not participate in any market manipulations to raise the price of wheat, with a view to enabling the Government's stocks that have been accumulated, to be realised at prices ruling higher than the market price to-day?
§ Mr. StanleyYes, Sir. I can certainly give my hon. Friend the assurance for which he asks. I would also refer him to Section 2, Sub-section (3) of the Essential Commodities Reserves Act, 1938, which provides safeguards respecting the disposal of Government reserves acquired under that Act.