§ 8. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food if he will take steps to find out how much fruit and vegetables are thrown away at Covent Garden market either because they go bad, or cannot be sold.
§ Mr. StracheyNo, Sir. It would require too many staff to keep records of small quantities not formally condemned.
§ Sir W. SmithersThese are not small quantities but very large quantities. Is it not a fact that Government interference outside and inside the markets leads to great waste, and is it not the right hon. Gentleman's duty, as Minister of Food, to see that no food is wasted, because there are tons wasted in Covent Garden market?
§ Mr. StracheyIf there is any fault in this matter, it is because we do not apply controls to fruit and vegetables in the markets.
§ Mr. H. HyndWill my right hon. Friend resist the pleas of the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) to apply more controls to private enterprise?