§ Sir J. Lambasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food to give a list of the distributive trade associations operating in connection with the control of food distribution of which membership is compulsory if traders are to continue in business; and which of these associations will function only for the duration of the war?
§ Mr. MabaneA list of companies and associations in operation on 30th June, 1942, whose services are utilised by the Ministry of Food for the purpose of facilitating or regulating the manufacture or distribution of food supplies was circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 9th July (column 956, Vol. 381) in reply to a Question asked by my hon. Friend. In the case of the companies and associations 55W named below, non-membership would have the effect of precluding a firm from performing the specific functions undertaken by the company or association. Generally speaking, membership of these companies and associations was open to all firms primarily concerned with those functions before the outbreak of war. Firms precluded by non-membership from performing the functions undertaken by a company or association would not be debarred from continuing in any other branch of its particular trade. In reply to the last part of my hon. Friend's Question, these companies have been brought into existence to improve the supply and distribution of food during the war and no decision has been taken as to any of them continuing to operate after the cessation of hostilities.
Following is the list
Associated Canned Meat Importers, Ltd.Associated U.K. Rice Millers, Ltd.Association of Casing Importers, Ltd.Association of Wholesale Distributors of Imported Poultry and Rabbits, Ltd.Bacon Importers National Defence Association, Ltd.Bemast, Ltd.Butter and Cheese Association, Ltd.Cake and Biscuit Manufacturers War Time Alliance, Ltd. (if production exceeds 12 tons per annum).Candisco.Cereal Breakfast Food Manufacturers (War Time) Association (if production exceeds 10 tons per annum).Cocoa and Chocolate (War Time) Association (if production exceeds 25 toils per annum).Sugar Confectionery (War Time) Association (if production exceeds 25 tons per annum).Frozen Egg Pool.Fruit Pulp Association, Ltd.London Tomato Distributing Association, Ltd.Marcom (except as regards distribution by wholesale).Meat Importers National (Defence) Association, Ltd.Milk Powder Pool, Ltd.National Association of Dried Fruit Port Services, Ltd.National Association of U.K. Oil and Oilseed Brokers, Ltd.National Egg Distributors Association, Ltd.Praba, Ltd.Rice Brokers, Ltd.Spanish Sour Orange Importers Association.Starch Distributors, Ltd.Tomatoes (Primary Distributors) Association, Ltd.Wholesale Meat Supply Association, Ltd. (London, South-Eastern, South-Western, Midland, North-Western, North-Eastern, South of Scotland and North of Scotland).