Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what profit has accrued to the Government in respect of the trading activities of his Department in commodities in short supply?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe Ministry of Food's trading activities must be regarded as a whole and in the aggregate a very substantial loss has been incurred in carrying out the Government's policy of subidising certain essential foodstuffs. Profits have, however, arisen on certain commodities mainly owing to the necessity of fixing retail selling prices at the nearest penny per lb., and in the early days of the war to requisitioning of stocks. Such profits are not substantial in amount in relation to the Ministry's activities, and are offset against the heavy losses incurred in subsidising other foodstuffs.