§ 39. Lord CLAUD HAMILTONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if the concessions as regards the supply of sugar to the small and struggling retail dealers in sweetmeats in London, promised by Lord Rhondda towards the end of last Session, have been granted; and, if so, to what extent?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe Sale of Sweetmeats (Restriction) Order, 1918, has now been made in order to deal with this matter. It is designed to secure that nobody shall sell confectionery retail unless either he is a small trader, the rateable value of whose premises does not exceed £40 per annum, or unless he holds a licence, which will only be issued to him if 20 per cent. of the gross receipts of his business in 1918 were receipts from the retail sale of confectionery. The effect of this will be to prevent those who deal in confectionery as a side line from doing so in future, and pass all the available confectionery through the hands of the small retailers and those mainly dependent on the trade. I should like to add that the Order will not interfere with the trade of hawkers and costermongers.
§ Sir F. FLANNERYWill that apply to the country as well as to London?
§ Mr. CLYNESCertainly!
Sir F. HALLHow will that affect automatic machines; will they be allowed to take the bread from the small retailer, as they have hitherto?
§ Mr. CLYNESI am not certain whether the automatic machine business has been brought into the circle; I will see.