HC Deb 31 March 1947 vol 435 cc1639-40
15. Sir John Mellor

asked the Minister of Food if he will state with regard to each of the 10 cases during 1946, in which the defendants were acquitted after their goods had been seized under the Seizure of Food Orders, 1942 or 1946, the value of the goods before seizure and when returned to the owner or, if sold by the Minister, the gross proceeds of

In none of these cases were the goods returned to the owner. Their value at the time of seizure could only be the price at which they could be legally sold. The following statement shows the gross proceeds, deductions and payments made in each of the ten cases where goods were seized under the Seizure of Food Order, 1942, and the defendants were acquitted:
Case. Gross Proceeds. Deductions. Net Proceeds. Date of Payment to Owner.
£ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d.
1 1 2 4 2 2 1 0 2 18.10.46
2 2 12 3 4 3 11 Nil Nil
3 9 11 0 12 3 8 18 9 20.11.46
4 4 6 Nil Nil
5 13 13 4 1 5 8 12 7 8 26.6.46
6 6 4 0 Nil 6 4 0 25.10.46
7 2 9 8 Nil 2 9 8 Indemnity Form not received and payment not made.
8 3 4 4 Nil 3 4 4 Indemnity Form not received and payment not made.
9 12 6 Nil 12 6 25.1.47
10 19 11 Nil 19 11 Owner has disappeared leaving no address and proceeds are held to his account.
Note: The deduction in all the above cases is the amount of ¾d. per lb. to wholesale meat supply associations for removal and sale of meat seized. No seizure, administrative or other expense has been deducted.

sale, the amount paid to the owner and an account of any deductions; and whether full restoration or compensation has now been made in every case.

Mr. Strachey

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Sir J. Mellor

As the Parliamentary Secretary admitted, on 26th November last, that injustice might have occurred in those cases, and promised to examine each case, will the Minister consider the last line of my Question?

Mr. Strachey

When the hon. Member sees my answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT, he will see that I deal with what happened in the final settlement with the owner in each particular case, which differs in each of the To cases. It is a little difficult for me, without taking up unduly the time of the House, to detail what happened in each case, but, in general, where the owner applied for repayment, he received it.

Sir J. Mellor

Will the Minister say when the examination by the Parliamentary Secretary into these cases was completed?

Mr. Strachey

It was completed, anyhow, in time for me to give the hon. Member particulars of each case in the written reply.

Following is the answer: