§ Colonel HALL WALKERasked the Food Controller what is the total number of divisional commissioners; what were the occupations of these gentlemen prior to their appointment as divisional commissioners; what salaries or other allowances are made to them; what payments were made to or on behalf of the members of the travelling milk commission; what has been the total cost of the commission; what is the reason why milk is still subject to control; and at what date will milk be subject to de-control?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe number of divisional food commissioners is at present thirteen. Of these, four were managing directors of commercial or manufacturing companies, two were barristers, one was an architect, one an official under a board of guardians, one a banker, one a landlord, one a retired member of the Indian Civil Service, one was in the Regular Army and one was engaged in the wholesale grocery and tea trade. One of the commissioners is unpaid; eight receive a salary of £1,000 per annum and four a salary of £800; they are entitled to travelling expenses at the rates provided for Civil servants of the first class. No salaries are paid to members of the Travelling Milk Commission, but they are entitled to railway fares and subsistence allowances on the scale approved by His Majesty's Treasury for members of voluntary committees. The cost of the committee is confined to these expenses, together with other incidental payments and the salary of the secretary. It would involve a considerable amount of work to obtain an exact figure and I trust that in the circumstances the requirements of 2423W the hon. Member will be met by my assurance that all unnecessary cost has been avoided.
With regard to the sixth and seventh parts of the question, the control of milk has been continued in view of the possibility of inadequate supplies during the ensuing autumn and winter and it is not possible to state at present at what date milk will be subject to de-control or to what extent, if any, the control of milk will be made permanent.