§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Food whether his. attention has been called to the resolutions of the Consumers' Council, the Executive of the Labour party, and the Trade Union Congress, urging the continued control of meat; whether the Government have decided to de-control frozen meat in spite of these protests; and whether, in that case, he can say what means the Government propose to take in order to protect the consumer from exploitation at the hands of the meat trusts?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The steps which have been take towards removing control of imported meat have merely had the effect of permitting retailers and the public generally to obtain whatever quantities of this meat they may desire. The protection afforded to the consumer by the enforcement of maximum wholesale and retail prices has not been removed.