§ Sir J. Lucasasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that Cheddar cheese of good quality, for which up to 130s. per cwt. was paid, and which has been held for 12 months to mature, which was being sold at 1s. 8d. per lb., has now to be sold at 1s. 1d. per lb.; and whether merchants holding stocks in bombed and largely evacuated areas can be given additional time to clear such stocks, and to do so at prices which give a reasonable profit?
Major Lloyd GeorgeOne month's notice of the intention to reduce the maximum price of home-produced cheese to the level of imported cheese was given to enable traders to dispose of any stocks which had been acquired at a higher cost. The demand for cheese during the month in question was such that no difficulty should have been experienced by traders in disposing of their stocks at a reasonable profit, if necessary, to traders in other parts of the country, and my Noble Friend is not prepared to give any extension of time.