§ Sir J. Nallasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether it has been represented to his Department that the schemes of control of supplies and distribution of bacon, butter, margarine, and cheese, which operated in 1918, worked reasonably smoothly and achieved their intended objective; and whether he can state the reason why the general principles of these previous schemes were abandoned in framing the schemes now in operation?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe schemes of control which were in operation in 1918 have been carefully studied in my Department and the general principles have been taken to serve as the basis of the schemes which will operate under full control, subject to such modifications as are necessary to meet the altered circumstances. The supply and distribution of cheese is not at present under control. The schemes now in operation for the other commodities referred to in my hon. Friend's question are designed for the transitional period, pending the introduction of rationing.
§ Mr. W. A. Robinsonasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why a Ruling has been given by the Chief Food Controller, with his sanction, that employes in the retail food trades are eligible for local food control committees only as trade representatives and not as consumer representatives?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonArticle 2 of the Food Control Committees (Constitution) Order, 1939, provides that five of the 15 members of a Food Control Committee shall be Trade Members, and that no person who is carrying on or is actively engaged in the business of a food trader shall be a member of a committee otherwise than as one of the Trade Members. As these committees are chiefly concerned with safeguarding the interests of consumers, I consider that this provision, which is directed to ensuring that representatives of consumers shall be in a majority, is desirable.
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§ Sir J. Nallasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the date on which the Food Defence (Plans) Department was set up; how many persons were employed therein on the 31st August, 1938, and 31st August, 1939, respectively; and in what branch of its work had the Department completed a definite scheme available for immediate operation on 1st September, 1939?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe Food (Defence Plans) Department was established in December, 1936. Its headquarters staff consisted on the 31st August, 1938, and the 31st August, 1939, of 92 and 375 persons in all, including messengers, typists and clerks. In addition to the Headquarters staff a nucleus Divisional Food Organisation existed before the outbreak of war.
In reply to the last part of the question the framework for schemes of control in respect of all the main essential commodities had been settled after discussion with all sections of the trades concerned. In most cases detailed planning had been carried about as far as was practicable under peace-time conditions.