§ 44. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that a farmer in North Lincolnshire has been offered the following amounts of vegetables in the last five months: cabbage 83 tons, savoy 240 tons, brussel sprouts 40 tons, red beet 400 tons, harvest onions 22 tons, spring onions 6 acres and carrots 200 tons, but has not been able to take this food to industrial centres because a wholesale and selling agent's licence has been refused; that, consequently, some of this food has been left in the fields to rot; and why this type of trade cannot be freed of control.
§ Mr. StracheyFarmers need no licences to sell cabbage, savoy, sprouts or red beet by wholesale. As to the other vegetables mentioned, I am considering whether it would be in the public interest to relax the control further.
§ Mr. Osborneis not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there has been a good deal of food wasted because farmers cannot get a licence? Will he not consider allowing food to be taken to industrial sites?
§ Mr. StracheyIn the cases of the vegetables I have named, there is no need for a licence at all.