§ Mr. SEDDONasked the Home Secretary if he will state the number of persons prosecuted and the names and fines imposed upon persons found guilty of profiteering in the county borough of Bootle?
§ Mr. SHORTTI am informed by the Bootle police that there have been seventy-nine persons in all charged there since April, 1917, with selling articles of food or drink at prices above the limits prescribed by the Food Controller's order. The fines imposed on those of them who 223W were convicted varied from 5s. to £ 15. I do not suppose all these cases could fairly be described as "profiteering"—some of them were probably of a trivial character due to ignorance or carelessness.