§ 18 and 19. Mr. Callaghanasked the Minister of Food (1) the exact nature of the undertaking given by the Government to the cold storage industry in 1940, to the effect that Government-owned cold storage plant then being erected would not be used to compete with privately-owned cold stores; and if he still adheres to this pledge;
(2) his policy with regard to the employment of cold-storage plant owned by the Government, now that his Department will shortly cease to be responsible for purchasing food.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI am sending the hon. Member a copy of the specific undertakings given to the industry. Briefly, the Government undertook among other things not to use these cold stores in unfair competition with the industry. I am anxious that the best use should be made of them consistently with these assurances and discussions on this basis are about to be opened with the industry.