§ 34. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food what were the conditions which led to Mr. H. Bird, a farmer, of Rise, near Hornsea, receiving a cheque for£32 from his Department's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Division for feeding his own turnips to his own stock; and, in view of the fact that his Department offered Mr. Bird£6 10s. a ton, what was the loss to the taxpayer on the transaction, particulars of which have been sent to him.
§ Dr. SummerskillThis payment was in respect of the disposal of the emergency reserve of swedes about which I gave the hon. Member information in my reply on 15th March. Mr. Bird elected to buy back the swedes he had agreed to sell to my Department earlier in the winter. The total cost to the taxpayer of this transaction was£35 7s. 6d.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs not this another example of the folly of bureaucratic control from Whitehall?