UNRATIONED FOODSTUFFS. (Hansard, 25 February 1941)

§ 56. Sir A. Southby
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that retailers of unrationed foodstuffs were allocated 75 per cent. of their pre-war supplies, and that their quota has not been increased in all the localities where the population has been substantially augmented by evacuation; and what steps he is taking to increase such supplies, which are now totally inadequate to the needs of the people in these evacuation areas?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Major Lloyd George)
My hon. and gallant Friend does not specify the commodities or the areas he has in mind and I am therefore unable to comment on the figure in the first part of the Question, except to say that it does not represent any standard of allocation among unrationed foodstuffs generally. Manufacturers are now supplied with figures of movement of population to help them in adjusting their allocation of unrationed foodstuffs, and my Noble Friend has reason to hope that a more even distribution of these foodstuffs is now being effected.

§ Sir A. Southby
If I bring specific cases to the notice of my hon. and gallant Friend, will he look into them?

Major Lloyd George
Certainly, Sir.

§ Mr. Frankel
Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman tell the House how often re-allocations are made and the last time that any re-allocation took place?

Major Lloyd George
The figures from all over the country have only recently— I think in the last month or six weeks— been given for the first time to manufacturers, and as a result of these figures, manufacturers are now re-allocating, or they have done so, their allowances to the various shops.

§ Mr. Frankel
Are we then to understand that since the "Blitz" took place and the great changes of population which have taken place all over the country no re-allocation has been made?

Major Lloyd George
It would be entirely contrary to the facts to say that, but we are trying to make it as perfect as possible. The hon. Gentleman will 366 appreciate that the figures do not remain constant and that people come and go, and that is one of the difficulties.