HC Deb 22 January 1942 vol 377 cc436-7W
Mr. Thorne

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can give any information in connection with the sale of 50,000 fowls by the United Kosher Poulterers Company at a price of 1s. per bird over the proper price; whether he is aware that three other men were charged, on Tuesday, 13th January, at the Thames Police Court with conspiring to enable the Kosher Company to sell poultry over the maximum price; and what action has he taken to prevent a repetition of this offence?

Major Lloyd George

The United Kosher Poulterers Company were convicted on the following charges:

  1. (1) Seven charges of selling poultry by wholesale above the maximum price;
  2. (2) Seven charges of conspiracy with four members of the Kosher Butchers' Buying Committee to enable the company to sell poultry above the maximum price; and
  3. (3) Three charges of selling poultry retail in excess of the maximum price.

The company was fined as follows:

  1. (1) £700 with 40 guineas costs;
  2. (2) £100 with 10 guineas costs; and
  3. (3) £200 with 10 guineas costs.

In addition eight directors of the company were fined £300 each with 15 guineas costs and the remaining seven directors of the company were fined £240 each with 10 guineas costs. The four members of the Kosher Butchers' Buying Committee were fined as follows: three members £50 with 10 guineas costs and one member £20 with five guineas costs. The United Kosher Poulterers Company sold poultry by wholesale to Jewish butchers in London and an additional sum of 3d. per lb. was included by the Kosher Butchers' Buying Committee on behalf of the company in the accounts for meat which they collected from members of their group. In reply to the last part of my hon. Friend's Question, my Department has always made every effort to prevent such contraventions of the regulations taking place and will continue to do so.