§ 48. Mr. Kennedyasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that certain local food control authorities are refusing to grant licences to shopkeepers for the sale of goods on the ground that the articles offered for sale had not been available for purchase in the shops concerned prior to the outbreak of war; and whether any steps will be taken to remove this restriction?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonFood control committees have been instructed that as a general rule in the performance of their duties under the Food Control Committees (Local Distribution) Order, 1939, they should not grant licences to food retailers in respect of any foodstuffs in which the retailers were not dealing in their area at the outset of the war. Food control committees have, however, been given discretion in special cases, to depart from the general rule. I see no reason to modify these instructions.