HC Deb 14 March 1939 vol 345 cc198-9
35. Mr. Kirkwood

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in the last War it was often difficult for the lowly-paid workers to obtain food; and whether his plans for rationing food in an emergency include plans for ensuring that the unemployed and lowly-paid workers will be able to obtain food as easily as their richer fellow-citizens?

Mr. Stanley

The plans provide for the control of the prices of all important foodstuffs as one element in the control of supplies and distribution. The rationing scheme is designed to make available to all persons equally at authorised prices prescribed amounts of the rationed commodities.

Mr. Kirkwood

In the event of the price of food rising, will the incomes of the unemployed and of the lower-paid workers rise in comparison?

Mr. Stanley

That is rather a different question. The plan is to control prices as well as amounts.

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