§ 4. Mr. H. A. Priceasked the Minister of Food, with regard to the tins of cat food shown him by the hon. Member for Lewisham West, the numbers of such tins, respectively, purchased, sold and still held by his Department; what price was paid and what price obtained by his Department; what net profit or loss was made on the transaction; what was the source of supply; and why this purchase was made.
§ The Minister of Food (Mr. Maurice Webb)This cat food is entirely in the hands of the private trade; none has at any time been bought or sold by my Department, and, therefore, I can give no answer to the questions put to me.
§ 29. Mr. Kenneth Thompsonasked the Minister of Food if he will take steps, if necessary in consultation with other Ministers, to ensure sufficient supplies of feedingstuffs for pet animals, in view of the periodic shortages of such feedingstuffs which at present occur.
§ Mr. WebbWith a few exceptions, feedingstuffs for pet animals are not controlled, and the trade is free to satisfy the demand. I do not think that there is any general shortage.
§ Mr. ThompsonIs the Minister aware that one of the largest dog biscuit factories was held up for nearly a week because it took that long for some small machinery parts to be carried a distance of 15 miles on British Railways?