§ Mr. R. GWYNNEasked the Parliatary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why Order No. 219, dated the 23rd February, 1918, issuing directions to retailers of butter and margarine, was not received by certain food control committees until the 29th June; and, bearing in mind that this Order states that persons failing to comply with the Regulations named therein on and after Monday, 25th February, are liable to summary conviction under the Defence of the Realm Act, will he see that the Orders are issued with less delay or that they are dated nearer the time they are issued?
§ Mr. CLYNESA copy of the Order in question was sent to each of the food control committees by the Ministry of Food on 28th February. The Order was published and placed on sale to the public on 11th March. It is usual for the Department to send a further supply of Orders sufficient to give each member of the food control committee one copy, but owing to an error on the part of the distributing agency concerned, the bulk supply was not dispatched until last month.