§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Agriculture why coupons for poultry-keepers for September to December, 1946, inclusive, were not issued together in August in accordance with precedent; and what additional expense will have been incurred by the monthly distribution of coupons.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsOwing in part to the changes in ration scales announced on 4th June and in part to the dispute in the printing industry, coupons for the four months September to December, 1946, could not be delivered to county war agricultural executive committees in time to be issued together. September coupons were distributed to farmers in August and October to December coupons in September; all coupons were, therefore, issued to288W farmers in good time to ensure their deposit with merchants before the first day of validity. An assessment of the additional expense incurred, mainly in envelopes and postage, would involve detailed inquiries to 62 war agricultural executive committees, and I do not consider that the circumstances justify the further expense involved in such inquiries.