§ Mr. FELLasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any figures available to show the number of mills engaged in polishing rice in this country and how many men are employed in this trade; and if the Food Controller will have power to close these mills and release the men for useful work, or will the Board of Trade retain the power to do this?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI regret that I cannot give the statistical details asked for, but the question of restricting the polishing of rice is at present receiving attention. The precise demarcation of powers between the Food Controller and the Board of Trade has not been decided, but I am advised that the recently made Regulation confers ample power for dealing with the matter.