§ 57. Sir Leonard Lyleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will instruct food committees to rule that if any small trader can establish that he does not merely wish to obtain rationed food for his family he can, even if he has fewer than 25 registered customers, be allowed to continue to earn his living as a purveyor of rationed food?
Major Lloyd GeorgeNo, Sir, I see no reason to add to the instructions already issued to the food control committees in accordance with the statement made on 22nd July in response to a Question put 1953 by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Kettering (Captain Profumo). Committees have been instructed to examine any case where a retailer claims that he would suffer hardship if he were unable to retain his registrations, and I am satisfied that the committees may be trusted to carry out this duty without any further instructions such as my hon. Friend suggests.
§ Sir L. LyleIs not the position most unsatisfactory, as the small trader is being left to the tender mercies of the food officials, who have been given confidential instructions by my right hon. and gallant Friend, which he refuses to lay on the Table of the House, so that we do not know what the position is?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI do not think my hon. Friend or the small trader need worry very much about that. Instructions have been given, and the matter is in the hands of the food control committees, who are not appointed by the Ministry but by the local authorities.
§ Mr. Evelyn WalkdenAnd the traders.
Major Lloyd GeorgeYes, there are five traders and 10 others on the committee. I have seen the instructions myself, and I am perfectly satisfied that the legitimate trader has no need to fear.
§ Sir L. LyleWould it not be better to lay the instructions on the Table, or else to leave the small trader where he was before?
§ Mr. E. WalkdenDo not the local food committees already know exactly what the position is, and can they not protect the small trader if they wish to do so?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThat is so, and that is why I have no fear that any hardship will be inflicted upon the small trader.