Mr. KENNEDY JONESasked the Food controller if he will state the present stocks of foodstuffs held by the Government, the amounts in course of transit to this country, as well as the extent of the Government commitments for future deliveries to orders already placed; and whether he can indicate the respective periods at which these, supplies in the aggregate are likely to be exhausted and free purchase and importation by private traders re-introduced?
Mr. ROBERTSI am unable to give the information required within the limits of an ordinary Parliamentary answer, but I am causing a memorandum to be prepared which will be circulated in due course. It is not possible to fix the precise date on which stocks at present purchased, or which may in future be purchased by the Government, will be exhausted, since the position as regards every commodity varies. Care will be taken in every instance to give the utmost possible notice of the date on which it will be possible to resume trade in any particular commodity, so as to give the traders concerned the fullest opportunity of making their arrangements in advance.