§ Mr. ALFRED SHORTasked the Food Controller whether Messrs. Spillers and Bakers, flour millers, made a profit of £93,900 in 1914; that their total profits for the period 1915–19, after paying all taxes, amounted to £900,000; whether this firm receives any portion of the bread subsidy; if so, how much; whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent the making of such profits from the sale of flour and other necessaries of life?
Mr. ROBERTSI understand that the company in question are not only flour millers but conduct several other businesses, and control a number of subsidiary companies. The flour mills of this company, in common with all flour mills in the country, are controlled by the Ministry of Food, the millers' remuneration for their services being fixed by the Department on the basis of pre-war earnings. To this extent all millers receive a portion of the bread subsidy.