§ Mr. ROWLANDSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that a correspondence took place between his Department and the Dartford rural local food control committee as to the qualifications and remuneration of one of the lady speakers sent down to address public meetings arranged in the parishes in the committee's area; whether the reply received by the committee was to the effect that her qualification was that she was an accredited speaker for the Ministry, and that the remuneration of the Ministry's officials was a matter of internal interest only; and what steps are taken to ensure that the speakers sent out are capable and efficient, and that the remuneration given to them out of public funds is judiciously and economically expended?
Mr. PARKERThe answer to the first parts of the question is in the affirmative. The food economy campaign is carried on almost entirely by voluntary speakers, who receive no remuneration out of public funds. All speakers sent out are selected as carefully as possible.