67. Mr. SNOW DENasked the Parlia-Food if he is aware of the position of the bakery trade in North-East Lancashire owing to the inadequacy of the present system of supplies of fat, and through the lack of supplies hardship is being placed upon the bakers and confectioners, and in consequence many are being compelled to close down their businesses, which means ruin; that owing to the inadequate supply of fat the bakers are unable to supply in many cases the limited demands for goods allowed by the Food Regulations, and that in consequence unrest is being caused among the workers in the factory districts of North-East Lancashire; and will he take steps to see that a larger supply of fast is placed at the disposal of the bakers?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative.
21 Subject to the necessity for providing as much material as possible for the increased production of margarine, every effort is being made by the Ministry of Food to allocate to other trades a fair proportion of the limited supplies of fat available. A committee of bakers is being formed in order to deal with allocations to the baking trade on the basis of pre-war consumption.