Mr. KENNEDY JONES (by Private Notice)asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is the intention of the Food Controller to adhere to Monday next as the day on which he will institute compulsory rationing of meat, butter, and margarine in London and the Home Counties; and, if so, what provision he intends to make for the many thousands of people who have not yet received their cards, and who, therefore, have not been able to register with a retailer for the authorised supply of these articles of food?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Any person who has not yet received a card should apply at once to the Food Office, and will be able to register with a retailer at any time after receiving his card. I have no reason to believe that any considerable number of persons have failed to receive their cards apart from those whose application was illegible o bore no address.
Mr. JONESIs it not within the knowledge of the hon. Gentleman that there has been a breakdown in the issue of meat cards, and that many people are still without them to-day; or if they have received them have not yet had time to enable them to complete the process of registration; and is it intended to penalise these people by depriving them of meat supplies next week because of the failure of the printing and distributing facilities of his Department?
§ Mr. CLYNESI have no knowledge of such breakdown, and as the terms of my answer indicate whatever date you begin your system or scheme, you will find a considerable number of people who will lag behind, and a remedy is not to be found by postponement.
§ Mr. LOUGHCan my hon. Friend say whether supplies, in accordance with the advertised rations, will be available on Monday next, so that all the people will be able to get them without standing in queues?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the question.