§ Mr. RATCLIFFEasked the Food Controller why the control of the prices of calf skins has been taken from his Department and placed in the hands of the Ministry of Munitions; will he state the special qualifications of that body for that particular business; whether it is intoned, in the case or the hides of cattle, also to place them under the same body; and what is being done with the heavy tolls taken by the Government amounting in a special case of over 15,000 hides to over £1 7s. per hide, or considerably over £21,000?
Mr. ROBERTSThe control of the price of calf skins has never rested with the Ministry of Food, but together with the control of hides of all descriptions has for some considerable time been administered by the Ministry of Munitions. The second part of the question is one which should be addressed to the Minister of Munitions. The difference between the price paid to the butchers and that paid by the tanners for the hides is applied to the reduction of the price of meat to the consumer.