§ Mr. SEDDONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether employers' organisations, trade unions, and other public bodies were generally limited. to one representative each when the Central Committee on the Profiteering Act was constituted; why, seeing that controlled goods are excluded from the sphere of the Act, the Chairman should have called 706W the Consumers' Council and officials of the Food Ministry together and asked them to appoint ten representatives on the Central Committee under the Act; and whether this was done to save investigation into the maladministration now alleged to be taking place under the Food Ministry with respect to the supplies of bacon, meat, and other commodities?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe number of representatives nominated by individual organisations and appointed to the Central Committee under the Profiteering Act, varies considerably in the case of different organisation. The Consumers' Council in common with other public bodies was invited to nominate several members for appointment to the Central Committee, because the Act is applied to articles of food which are not controlled, and the appointments were made by the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. SEDDONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, under Article 2 in the Schedule to the Regulations under the Profiteering Act of 18th September, 1919, power is given to the Central Committee to appoint three Standing Committees and such other Committees as they may from time to time deem expedient; how these powers can be exercised if the Central Committee is to be regarded as having ceased its existence with the appointment of the three Standing Committees on 30th September last; is he aware that complaints have been made with regard to the administration of the Act; that while Sub-committees are inquiring into the costs of various articles the members of the Central Committee are kept in ignorance of all procedure under the Act; and will he call a general meeting of the Central Committee and secure proper and reasonable rules for working?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Central Committee, at a meeting held on the 30th September, appointed the three Standing Committees provided for in the Regulations, and should it be necessary to appoint any other Committees, a meeting of the Central Committee will be convened for the purpose. I understand that every member of the Central Committee has been appointed to at least one of the three Standing Committees, and that the members of each Standing Committee are kept informed of the proceedings of any Sub-committee appointed by them.