§ 59. Mr. Stourtonasked the Minister of Food the number of successful prosecutions effected against those guilty of disposing of turkeys above the controlled price.
§ Colonel LlewellinDuring 1944, twenty-two.
§ Mr. StourtonIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the number of prosecutions is entirely unsatisfactory in view of the fact that tens of thousands of turkeys were sold above the controlled price in East Anglia? Is he further aware that the surest way to promote black market activities is for a Government Department to issue orders it is apparently incapable of enforcing?
§ Colonel LlewellinThe number of black market offences have been very greatly exaggerated. We have not got a very large black market in this country. It is very difficult in these sales, in which there are two parties—a willing buyer wishing to pay an increased price and a willing seller hoping to get it—to get the information on which to prosecute. Wherever we can get the information, however, we are determined to prosecute, and we do so.
§ Mr. GallacherIs not this black market business only an increase in the normal capitalist robbery which is going on?