§ Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to a Resolution passed at a meeting of the Council of the City of York on the 6th October last to the effect that they are of opinion that steps should be immediately taken to ensure, as far as possible, that food shall reach the consumer with the minimum risk of its becoming spoiled in transit, and that the Government be asked to arrange for the more speedy clearance of food depots, and more rapid 1155W conveyance of food by means of the railways, and to insist upon the provision of properly equipped cold storage carriages on the railways for the conveyance of food; and whether he will take action as speedily as possible to ensure these results?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe Resolution referred to has not been brought to my notice. I can, however, assure the hon. Baronet that, as far as the railways are concerned, priority is given to perishable foodstuffs over all other goods traffic. I have received no complaints indicating a shortage of cold storage vans, but if the hon. Baronet can supply me with particulars of concrete cases where difficulty has arisen I will have the matter further investigated.