§ Mr. ATKEYasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there are great delays in transit of foodstuffs to and from the wholesalers in Nottingham; that fifty cases of pears ordered by Mr. F. Goodliffe, of 20, Wollaton Street, Nottingham, from Messrs. J. Sinclair and Company, York Street, Glasgow, on the 10th May, were not delivered until the 4th June; that twenty-five cases of salmon, invoiced by Messrs. Travers and Son, 44, Stanley Street, Liverpool, on the 15th April last, lay at River Plate Wharf, London, until the 21st May, and were then forwarded to Nottingham, but have not yet arrived; that many other similar cases could be quoted; and will he state who is responsible for this state of affairs?
§ Mr. McCURDYI am aware that there has been delay in. the transit of foodstuffs to and from Nottingham, as in other parts of the country. I understand, however, that the question of accelerating transport is receiving the earnest attention of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. With regard to the specific instances quoted by the hon. Member, however, I am advised that the fifty cases of pears did not leave the hands of the consignors until 26th May, and that delivery of the goods was completed in the normal time for small consignments which are not sent by through trains, but are necessarily subject to transhipment in the course of the journey. In reply to the third part, the Transport Officer of the Ministry of Food actually called the attention of the consignees to the delay in the removal of these cases of salmon,784W caused by the failure to have the goods labelled, and was informed that as the foodstuffs in question were not controlled, delay did not appear to be the concern of the Ministry of Food. The twenty-five cases were delivered by Messrs. Travers and Son on 12th June.