§ Flight-Lieutenant Challenasked the Minister of Food what is the object of his regulation which prohibits millers from charging postage on oatmeal but permits them to charge for its transport by rail in large quantities; and whether this order can now be rescinded in order to encourage consumption of oatmeal as opposed to other foodstuffs which are in shorter supply.
§ Sir B. SmithThe object of the regulation which prohibits any addition in respect of carriage to the maximum retail price where the goods on retail sale are sent by post, rail or in any other way is to prevent evasion of the prescribed maximum price The available supply of oatmeal is being fully taken up, and there is, therefore, no reason at present to consider encouraging further consumption on the lines suggested.