HC Deb 31 January 1940 vol 356 cc1135-7
40. Sir Herbert Williams

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what right of appeal is granted to a retailer in the event of his licence to trade being withdrawn by a local food committee?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

No right of appeal by a retailer against a decision by a food control committee to withdraw his licence is conferred by the Food Control Committees (Local Distribution) Order but every food control committee is required to comply with my right hon. Friend's directions. Where, therefore, a retailer is dissatisfied with the decision of a food control committee, he is entitled to state his case to the divisional food officer. After such local investigation as may be necessary, the matter may be submitted to my right hon. Friend for consideration and decision.

Sir H. Williams

Why is it necessary to have a retail trader's licence at all? What is the purpose of the Order?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

In order that, in time of war, foodstuffs should be delivered with the greatest expedition and economy.

Sir H. Williams

Can my hon. Friend explain in what way expedition and economy are effected by giving people a totally unnecessary licence to exist?

41. Sir H. Williams

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will issue instructions that consumers are free to change their registered retailers of rationed foodstuffs, subject to a reasonable but short period of notice?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

No, Sir, the distribution of rationed foodstuffs is based upon the allocation of a definite amount of the rationed food proportioned to the number of customers which the retailer has to serve. It is essential to the success of this plan that the number of customers registered with the retailer should not be subject to frequent or material fluctuation.

Sir H. Williams

In practice, why should the individual simply become the slave of the retailer; and having regard to the fact that the allocation is ineffective in any case, since it has been found necessary to double the bacon ration in order to sell the bacon, what is the purpose of the scheme?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The last part of the question raises another matter which will be dealt with later. As regards the first part, it is obvious that if each customer were allowed to change, and if they changed very frequently, then the whole basis of the allocation would be destroyed.

Mr. Holdsworth

Supposing the consumer has a genuine grievance, what is the remedy?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

His remedy is to appeal to the local food committee who, in cases where there is a serious grievance, can grant immediate relief.

Sir Archibald Sinclair

What evidence has the hon. Gentleman to show that such a very large number of people would want to change their retailers, that it would destroy the basis of the Government's scheme? It sounds a fantastic assumption.