§ Lieut-Commander ASTBURYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, inasmuch as profiteering is the direct result, of the scarcity of all articles of common use and consumption by the public caused by the War, and the pro- 449W blem of dealing with the excessive profits charged is a national one, he can defray the whole of the expenses of local committees under the Profiteering Act, i919, out of the national Exchequer as in the case of local tribunals under the Military Service Acts and the Food Control Committees, etc.?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Plaistow on the 1st December.