§ 54. Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Food whether his Department has considered the case of remote villages where no shop has the necessary 25 customers for rationed commodities; and what steps it is proposed to take to supply the needs of these communities?
Major Lloyd GeorgeTwenty-five customers represent on the average only six families. I do not therefore consider that cases of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers will occur except in very special circumstances. Food executive officers have however been given discretion to permit a retailer to retain fewer than 25 registrations if they are satisfied that only by this means will certain members of the public be able to obtain supplies.
§ Mr. RadfordDoes my hon. and gallant Friend realise the tremendous hardship which is being caused to the small shopkeepers who are being deprived of this trade?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThat is another question. There is a more general Question down for a future Sitting dealing with the same subject.