HC Deb 09 February 1949 vol 461 cc371-2
47. Mr. Peter Roberts

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an assurance that his Department will not in the future sell sweets to be sold off the ration to a distributor without first obtaining competitive tenders from at least two distributors.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Dr. Edith Summerskill)

We expect that, in future, most salvaged sweets will be in small quantities which can be sold under the dispensation granted in Article 4 of the Salvage Goods Order, 1948. If my Department have any to dispose of, we shall no doubt invite tenders, provided that the condition of the sweets warrants it.

Mr. Roberts

Is it not the policy of the Department, where monopolistic powers of this kind are used, that no suspicion of preferential treatment should occur, and would not the right hon. Lady agree that the giving of contracts with considerable profits attached to them but without any tenders at all is not a practice which should be followed by public Departments?

Dr. Summerskill

I fully agree with the hon. Gentleman. The only time we departed from it was when the sweets were in such a condition that they might further deteriorate, and it was necessary to take quick action.

Mr. Tiffany

Could my right hon. Friend bring pressure to bear on the Minister so that all sweets can be sold off the ration, and not just a few?