asked the Minister of Food the number of honorary food executive officers still drawing honorariums for their services; what is the annual amount of such honorariums paid to these individuals; also the total over the whole country; and what services is it considered are rendered by these officers as justification for receipt of these honorariums.

The number of honorary food executive officers on 1st January, 1947, was 516. The honorarium paid to these officers ranges from £50 to £150 a year, and the total payment so made is approximately £35,000 a year. The honorary food executive officer is a part-time official and is the senior officer of the Ministry of Food in the local food office and the chief officer of the food control committee. He is responsible for the organisation and work of the food office and for the efficient carrying out of the Ministry's instructions.

Is the hon. Lady aware that in many cases these honorary food executive officers do not actually attend any meetings or, in other cases, attend them only infrequently; and would she review this whole matter with a view to discontinuing the service of these officials?

During 1946 we replaced 90 of these officers by salaried officials, but I can assure my hon. Friend that they are doing very valuable service and that during the war, when we had to set up food offices, we were very grateful to the town clerks and the local authorities for their help.

If I give my hon. Friend specific instances where honorary food executive officers are in fact doing nothing useful for the honorarium they receive, will she look into the matter further?