asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the retail prices at which dates are selling; and whether he has considered the advisability of fixing the selling price?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether any control price for the sale of dates has been fixed; whether there is any adequate supply in this country to enable dates to be supplied with any approach to uniformity throughout the country; and whether he is aware that the only dates obtainable in most shops cost between 2s. 6d. and 3s. per 1b.?

There are two distinct classes of dates sold in this country—Persian dates, of which a considerable quantity has been purchased by the Ministry of Food; and Tunis and Egyptian dates, of which small amounts have arrived on private account. The latter are in the nature of a luxury, generally packed in fancy boxes, and no maximum price has been fixed for them. The maximum retailprice of the Persian dates, which are now being distributed, is fixed by Order at 6d. a lb. The supply available is about one-third of a normal year's supply, and is being distributed with uniformity throughout the United Kingdom through the ordinary trade channels

Can the hon. Gentleman give us any idea when these dates will be likely to be distributed and be obtainable at the ordinary shops?

I understand that already at one or two places there are small queues of date-eaters waiting outside the shops.

asked what is the quantity of dates to be sold at 6d. per lb. which have been imported; and are they all being put on the market?

The total amount imported is 6,300 tons. Of this quantity 470 tons were distributed to the Admiralty and the Navy and Army Canteen Board, 100 tons arrived in an unsatisfactory condition, which did not allow of their being kept, and were, therefore, sold immediately; 330 tons are being held back as a reserve, and the remainder are being put on the market.

How soon does the hon. Gentleman expect the dates will be put on the market, as he says there are queues waiting for them?

The only reason for holding them back is that we are awaiting additional supplies, and desire to place them on the market at one time.