asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the unrest among food controllers and shopkeepers in this country; and whether he will consider regulations for the adequate punishment of profiteers, including the death penalty?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will now issue an order providing for the licensing of all wholesalers engaged in the distribution of foodstuffs, making it a condition of any licence that the wholesaler concerned was actually engaged in such business at the outbreak of war?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Major Lloyd George):

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Leicester (Captain Lyons) on Wednesday, 14th May. Infringements of Ministry of Food Orders are offences under the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, and No. 92, paragraph (1), of those Regulations prescribes the penalties on conviction.

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman consider that the death penalty is too harsh a punishment for profiteers who benefit out of the nation's need?