§ Sir JAMES YOXALLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food 1722W whether, on the same day that the fine of £25 was imposed on Mr. A. Blomfield, J.P., for the alleged offence of feeding pigs with barley as a protest against its use in brewing, the chairman of the bench of magistrates declared that he personally should be very sorry to lose Mr. Blomfield's services from the Halstead Food Control Committee on account of what, after all, was only a technical and not a criminal offence; and whether, in view of this statement, the responsible Department will take steps to redress this matter?
Mr. PARKERI have been unable to obtain any confirmation of the suggestion that this statement was made by the bench of magistrates. Should any application be made by the appointing authority or by the local food control committee for the removal of the disqualification which the conviction entails, the Ministry will be prepared to investigate the facts and take the case into consideration.