§ Mr. ATKEYasked the Food Controller whether it is the intention of the Government to again control all dried fruits; whether he is aware that the interests alike of the distributing trade and the public would be best served by the abandonment of the system of Government control as hitherto enforced and that the executive committee elected by the whole trade are willing to co-operate with the Food Ministry and to fix standard wholesale prices from time to time and give adequate guarantees to the Ministry for the protection of the consumer against profiteering; and whether the Co-operative Wholesale Society are to become the distributors for the Government?
Mr. ROBERTSIt is my intention to control dried fruits during the forthcoming season and I am satisfied that the interests of the consumer will be better served by direct control rather than by the scheme to which the hon. Member refers. In common with other distributing agencies, the Co-operative Wholesale Society will receive their proper proportion of any dried fruits imported on Government account.