5. Mr. De la Bèreasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, arising out of the new Limitation of Supplies (Toilet Preparations) Order, 1941, he is aware of the hardship which will be inflicted on the 1368 average wholesale sundriesman, and the individual hairdressing concerns, who will be deprived of their necessary saloon requirements; and whether some steps can be taken to ensure that the manufacturers' quota is equitably allocated so as not to discriminate in favour of the multiple stores and the big direct retail buyers?
§ Sir A. DuncanI have no reason to think that the operation of the Limitation of Supplies (Toilet Preparations) (No. 2) Order, 1941, will have the effect of discriminating unfairly against wholesale dealers or against individual hairdressing concerns; but if my hon. Friend will let me have details of any case in which it is alleged that manufacturers are discriminating unfairly against these interests in distributing their supplies, I will inquire into it.
Mr. De la BèreIs not my right hon. Friend aware that the real danger is that the big buyers get practically all the manufacturers' severely limited output, and that that is the fear of the small man?
§ Sir A. DuncanI know that that is the suspected danger, but I do not know that it has materialised at all.
§ Mr. HannahIs not the little man being penalised everywhere as a result of war conditions?