asked the Minister of Food if he will estimate in terms of expenditure, or however else practicable, the proportion of this country's food consumption, excluding, if possible, supplies in bulk to the Armed Forces, which consists of foods for which neither coupons nor points are required, such as bread, oatmeal and some other cereals, potatoes and other vegetables, fruit, fish, sausages and other meat stuffs, cocoa and coffee.

I am having information prepared and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as it is available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman yet convinced in any way that many articles of food in this country are not rationed and are in unlimited supply, and in view of this, does he adhere to the extraordinary statement that was made by the Minister in October that we are as strictly rationed as any country in Europe?

I had better answer the Question on the Order Paper first.

asked the Minister of Food whether, owing to the constant demand for jellies by sick persons, invalids and delicate children, he will authorise the early resumption of their manufacture in order to meet a pressing need.

No, Sir. I regret that the supply position does not yet permit a resumption of manufacture.

As sugar is bring assigned for less necessary needs, will the Minister grant sufficient sugar to allow a certain percentage of jellies to be manufactured to meet a pressing public demand?

There is every desire to resume manufacture as soon as the supply position permits.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to the widespread sale of red wine called "British Wine Port Type" manufactured by a chemical process and bottled by Santiago, Neuhofer, of 11, Brushfield Street, E.1; whether he is aware that the sale price is 15s. 6d. a bottle; that the retailers pass it off as Algerian wine; and whether he will state the name of the manufacturers and the date on which his Department passed it as fit for human consumption.

Yes, Sir. I am aware that limited quantities of this product have been sold and inquiries are being made into the source of supply. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 7th March to the hon. Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Leslie).

Why is it impossible for the Minister to tell us the names of the manufacturers of this poisonous beverage?

Because we do not know.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain why this spurious beverage is still on sale?

We are making inquiries to find out the source of supply. We have discovered the source of the first supply and that has been stopped.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was a prosecution in Bath police court, and that all the reports concerning it have been suppressed? Surely, when the stuff is sold the Ministry must know who made it and it must be done with the approval of the inspectors of the Ministry?

I do not know what the hon Member means when he says that the reports have been suppressed, but action in the form of a prosecution is a matter for the local authorities, who operate the Food and Drugs Act.

Could we have a sample in the Library of the House?

asked the Ministeh of Supply if there has been any improvement in the rate of collection of paper salvage.

Yes, Sir. There has recently been an appreciable improvement. More waste paper is, however, urgently needed; and I hope that, in spite of labour difficulties, still larger quantities will be obtained, with the aid of the drives that have been planned.

Is the right hon. Gentleman taking any action to bring home to local authorities and the public the continuing and urgent need for the maximum collection?

We have regular conferences with local authorities on the subject.