§ 36. Mr. Keenanasked the Minister of Food when the liners of the Canadian Pacific Railway Shipping Company commenced to victual in United Kingdom ports.
§ Mr. KeenanIf it was last December, will the Minister take note that there is an advantage to the shipping company at the expense of his Ministry in their purchasing on this side instead of purchasing abroad, as they did formerly?
§ Mr. WebbMy hon. Friend has raised a number of questions on this issue which 1735 I have asked him to discuss with my Department, and perhaps he will await the outcome of those discussions.
§ Commander NobleCan the right hon. Gentleman say why the arrangements have been changed?
§ 40. Mr. Keenanasked the Minister of Food what subsidised foods are purchased by shipping companies for their liners when victualling in United Kingdom ports; whether the foods are bought at the subsidised prices; and to what extent the passengers on board these liners are subject to British rationing regulations.
§ Mr. WebbI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne) on 19th February.
§ Mr. KeenanAs I am not aware of that reply, may I ask whether it is not a fact, as I infer in my Question, that the shipping companies buy these subsidised stores and supply them to their passengers? If that is so, will my right hon. Friend do something to stop it?
§ Mr. WebbI have already explained that one of the reasons was to try to limit our dollar expenditure on the other side—it was a matter of balancing the two considerations. In the new circumstances into which we are now emerging as a result of the improvement in our dollar situation, I think that my hon. Friend will be satisfied.
§ Captain CrookshankCan the Minister say whether meat is being bought for these ships in this country?