§ 28. Mr. PETOasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether an additional allocation of tea of 50 per cent. Above the distribution agreed on the basis of the datum period, i.e., the year extending from the 1st July, 1915, to the 30th June, 1916, has been made to the wholesale co-operative societies for distribution through their retail societies;: and, if so, whether he can state the reason for this discrimination against the retail traders of the country, who pay their full contribution in the form of Income Tax?
§ Mr. CLYNESI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on this subject to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Islington, on the 13th May.
§ Mr. PETOIs it proposed to do away with the datum line existing and to adopt the system which is adopted in the case of meat and other commodities, namely, of registering consumers with retailers and retailers with wholesalers, so that all wholesalers may have an equal and adequate supply?
§ Mr. CLYNESYes. Substantially the changes contemplated would mean placing meat and tea on the same basis, in the sense that the quantity supplied would correspond to the number of customers registered.