HC Deb 29 June 1917 vol 95 cc676-7
3. Mr. ANDERSON

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the consequences of food shopping; whether he is aware that women have to wait outside shops for two, three, and four hours in the hope of being able to buy margarine and sugar, and after waiting often find the stock gone by the time their turn comes; that the long waiting in any kind of weather has imposed a strain upon the health of some of the women, and has caused some of the children to contract pneumonia and bronchitis; and whether it is the intention of his Department to organise a better system of distribution?

Colonel GIBBS

The question of the better distribution of foodstuffs is receiving the Food Controller's attention. I would refer to my answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for South West Ham, in which I asked that Members would, for the moment, refrain from raising questions as to control of prices and profits, which could only be answered when the general policy of the Food Controller is determined. I hope that Members will apply the same principle to questions as to the supply and distribution of foodstuffs and other points of general policy.