§ Sir HERBERT NIELDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the effect of the Department of the Food Controller having commandeered the stocks of margarine manufactured in this country by the Maypole Dairy Company at the price of 10½d. per lb. has been the retailing of such goods to the public by the traders competitors of the company to whom supplies have been allocated at 1s. per lb. as against the sum of 11d. which was the price at which the Maypole Dairy Company retailed their product; and whether he considers that the alteration in the method of distribution has justified the increase of the price to the consumer?
§ Mr. CLYNESAs an emergency measure to avoid the formation of queues, it has been necessary in various localities to redistribute supplies of margarine among the retail provision shops available and consequently to provide for the cost of handling, and for a reasonable profit in respect of the margarine so distributed. The prices named are in accordance with those prescribed in the Orders issued by the Food Controller, and it is thought that the improved distribution justifies the small additional cost.