§ Mr. BYRNEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, seeing the Articles of Commerce (Returns, etc.) Act, 1914, and a Proclamation dated 17th September, 1914, give power to take-possession of any articles of food which are unreasonably withheld, he will say if the Food Controller also has power to requisition any foodstuffs and thus to prevent such foodstuffs from being hoarded or withheld from the market; and, if so, as-failure to comply with a requisition made by the Food Controller is a punishable offence under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, what steps, if any, will be taken to enforce the Regulations in Ireland so far as the sale of potatoes is concerned?
Captain BATHURSTThe Food Controller has power to requisition foodstuffs, and the use of this power in appropriate cases would prevent foodstuffs from being hoarded or withheld from the market. It has not been necessary for the Food Controller to exercise the power of requisitioning in Ireland, consequently the second part of the question does not arise.