§ Mr. GILBERTasked the Minister of Food whether he has recently made large purchases of food from Holland; whether these goods have been brought to this country by Dutch ships; if it was a condition of sale of these goods that they should be conveyed in Dutch steamers; and whether, on any similar purchases of food from Holland or other Continental countries, he will arrange that British shipowners shall have a chance of tendering for all such cargoes?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe Food Controller recently purchased a considerable quantity of butter in Holland, but no condition such as that referred to attached to the transaction which was made on a c.i.f. basis in sterling. The butter was accordingly shipped by the sellers who, it may be presumed, made arrangements with the steamship companies offering them the most favourable terms. The Food Controller will however bear in mind the suggestion made by the hon. Member in the last part of the question.