§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Supply the purpose of paragraph 4 of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Binder Twine Order (S.R. & O., No. 937 of 1943), under which he is free to carry out any transaction with any other person upon such terms as may be agreed between him and that person; and whether it is proposed to publish particulars of any such transaction?
§ Sir A. DuncanThe Order to which my hon. Friend refers controls the acquisition and disposal, and treatment, use and consumption of binder twine. In a case where the Minister of Supply is himself a party to the transaction and therefore has the transaction under his own control, there is no reason why he or the other party should be compelled to comply with the requirements of the licensing system. There are standing instructions, however, that this Article, which occurs in a number of raw material Control Orders, is not to be invoked without the approval of the Department of the Ministry responsible for the administration of the Order.