§ Mr. Grovesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, whether his attention has been called to the recent meeting of the Chelmsford Rural District Food Control Committee at which a case was cited where a shopkeeper was refusing to retail tomatoes at the controlled price but was slicing tomatoes and selling salad at 6d. per pound; and what steps he is taking to deal with this procedure, which imposes a condition of sale and should be prohibited?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI have inquired into the case recently discussed by the Chelmsford Rural District Food Control 477W Committee. It appears that the firm referred to does not offer whole tomatoes for sale, but sells sliced tomatoes mixed with other vegetables in the form of a salad. The practice of offering for sale composite parcels of food, some of which are subject to price control, is now being examined by my Department.