§ 60. Sir R. Rossasked the Minister of Food why there is a prohibition applied to Northern Ireland alone against dispatch of poultry as a gift without licence when above seven-pound weight; and whether, in order to avoid discrimination, he will cither apply it to the United Kingdom as a whole or rescind it.
§ Sir B. SmithI prohibited the despatch from Northern Ireland, except under licence, of gift poultry weighing more than 7 lbs., to ensure that the largest possible number of Northern Irish turkeys become available to consumers in Great Britain through retail shops. It would be impracticable to impose a similar restriction on gifts of poultry produced in Great Britain in the absence of any bottleneck such as is afforded by the Northern Irish ports. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No, Sir."
§ Sir R. RossDoes not the Minister know that the Ministry of War Transport control the railways and that the Post Office control the post, and that it is perfectly practicable, therefore, to put on this control? Is he not aware that otherwise there is an unfair discrimination against Northern Ireland people, where his party will have fewer friends than there are turkeys.