§ 17. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, if a number of families are willing, as an experiment, to ration them-selves on the family-book system in accordance with the now suggested voluntary rationing, he will give a guarantee that they will be able to obtain their share of the food commodities from the various tradesmen?
§ Mr. THORNEDoes the hon Gentleman not think it possible, if a number of persons are willing to carry out the family-book system, that they should be guaranteed the proper amount of bread, meat, sugar, etc., under the system of voluntary rationing?
Captain BATHURSTThe whole question of the advisability of adopting what is described as the family-book system is now under the consideration of a Departmental Committee, and it would not be advisable to adopt such a scheme in a piecemeal fashion.