asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why salmon and carrots have disappeared from the shops since their prices have been controlled?

I am aware that, shortly after the introduction of control of salmon prices, there was a scarcity of supplies in retail shops in certain parts of the country, but from such information as I can obtain this scarcity was in large measure due to a falling off in home supplies and also in imports from Eire. With control of prices there was an increased demand from a wider range of consumers. Every effort is being made by my Department to ensure that the small supplies available are distributed as equitably as possible. There is no evidence that control of prices has caused carrots to disappear from the shops. A shortage of main crop carrots is to be expected at this time of year as the season is nearly over.

Is the Minister aware that, while it was impossible to obtain salmon in the shops, there was a plentiful supply in the restaurants? Can he explain the effect of price control upon that situation?

I do not think that is wholly true. The shortage in the shops arose during the second week of control, and that coincided with extremely bad weather in Scotland, which restricted the supplies of salmon coming on to the market.

Will the Minister watch the situation and see that there is a reasonable supply available?

It is being watched very carefully, and every effort is being made to see that supplies come to the shops.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why liquid milk is supplied for dogs used for vivisection purposes and refused to veterinary surgeons for sick and injured dogs?

The demand for liquid milk for human consumption is so heavy that none can be made available for animals unless it can be shown to be necessary for scientific purposes. The quantity used for this purpose is negligible. A limited quantity of damaged dried milk powder is available for veterinary hospitals and similar institutions for the feeding of sick and injured dogs and other animals.

Why is this preference given to dogs for cruel vivisection purposes rather than to sick dogs which veterinary surgeons are seeking to cure?

The scientific purposes include a great number of experiments that are of great value in nutritional matters. The amount authorised for this purpose is only 70 gallons a week, and an amount of damaged dried milk is made available for veterinary purposes and also for warehouse cats.

What are the useful scientific purposes for which dogs are vivisected?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what reduction in the consumption of wheat is being effected by the introduction of wholemeal flour?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 19th March last to my hon. Friend the Member for Moss Side (Mr. Rostron Duckworth), to which I have nothing to add.

Has the consumption of bread gone down since the introduction of the wholemeal loaf?

I should like my hon. Friend to look at the answer to which I have referred.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what powers he has to open a British Restaurant without the consent of the appropriate local authority; in what localities such powers have been used; and in what circumstances?

My Noble Friend, under the Defence Regulations, has power to establish British Restaurants. He has delegated this power to local authorities subject to his approval in each case. The primary responsibility for assessing the need for a new Restaurant has been entrusted to the local authority. No occasion has yet arisen in which my Noble Friend has considered it necessary to provide a British Restaurant where a local authority has not done so.

If it could be shown in a given case that the consent of the local authority has been unreasonably withheld, would the Minister act?

I am sure that my Noble Friend would desire to persuade the local authority, and I am sure that the hon. Member will agree that persuasion is far better than compulsion, since local cooperation is most important.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what evidence of need he requires before consenting to the establishment of British Restaurants?

Before approving a scheme for a British Restaurant, my Department require an assurance from the local authority concerned that owing to war-time conditions a sufficient number of people have difficulty in obtaining hot nutritious meals at a reasonable price to justify the establishment of the Restaurant. Among the factors taken into account by local authorities are such considerations as the increase of population, difficulties experienced by officially evacuated persons preparing meals in billets, the number of women employed on war work, the existing provision for hot meals by industrial canteens and canteens of a similar nature, and the facilities provided by existing commercial catering establishments.