HC Deb 19 November 1919 vol 121 cc939-40W
Mr. RATCLIFFE

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether his Department have the control of calf skins and also the hides of cattle; what profit is made by the Ministry by such control and what becomes of the money so obtained; and what are the special qualifications of his Department to deal with such byproducts of the meat trade?

Mr. KELLAWAY

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The sums paid to the Ministry of Munitions by hide markets are transferred to the Central Live Stock Fund of the Ministry of Food and no profit is made by the Ministry of Munitions. The control of hides is exercised by the Department of the Ministry of Munitions which deals with the purchase of leather goods. The Department acts in consultation with a Leather Council fully representative of all sections of the leather industry and in close co-operation with the Ministry of Food.