§ 53. Mr. Quibellasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of 601 Food whether lie is aware that the Lindsey public assistance committee recently purchased two tons of corned beef and that the Wholesale Meat Trades Association insisted on this consignment being invoiced through a retailer, who charged 10 per cent, profit on this transaction and, as a consequence, the meat cost the committee £25 more than was necessary; and if he will consider taking steps to stop this practice?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI am aware that the Lindsey public assistance committee purchased two tons of corned beef and that this consignment was invoiced through a retailer on the advice of the. Wholesale Meat Supply Association. The Ministry has encouraged caterers, public institutions, etc., who previously purchased their meat supplies through a retail butcher to continue to do so under war conditions. Since the transaction in question, it has been decided that approved purchases of canned corned beef to be held by public assistance authorities for emergency purposes shall be supplied directly from depots of wholesale meat supply associations.