§ Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERYasked the Food Controller whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. John Thompson, of Towerlands Farm, Booking, Essex, who had forty-six sheep insufficiently supplied with food as well as eighteen pigs and five bullocks also lacking sufficient food; whether he is aware that Mr. Thompson purchased cotton cake in sufficient quantity from Messrs. Belsham and Sons, corn merchant, Braintree, who had 100 tons in stock going bad for want of permits to deliver, and that Mr. Thompson wrote to the Holborn forage department on the 25th September for permit and up to the 10th October no reply had been given, although in the interval six of the sheep had died; whether any compensation will be given by the Department in this case; and if he will say who is to blame for the official delay which had resulted in the loss of meat and the deterioration of cattle food?
§ Major ASTORThe answer is in the negative. I am informed that there is no foundation for the suggestion that the cake held by Messrs. Belsham and Sons, of Braintree, on behalf of the Ministry of Food is deteriorating in quality. Owing to the serious shortage of concentrated feeding-stuffs, the reasons for which have been explained on several occasions, I regret that it is not possible to issue a permit for the supply of cotton cake for sheep.