asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, since the Government have had stocks of wheat purchased on their behalf by large milling firms, he has exercised any control over the profits of such firms?

As my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, informed the House on 28th April, 1938, none of the milling firms concerned with the purchase of Government stocks of wheat is receiving any remuneration or commission whatever; they receive only their out-of-pocket expenditure. As I informed the House on 2nd June, 1938, this also applies to the custody of the wheat, to the undertaking to mill it when the time comes, and to purchases made by the firms concerned for replacement purposes. I might add that the out-of-pocket expenses are certified by Chartered Accountants employed for that purpose by the Board of Trade.