21. Mr. Scottasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now satisfied that the workers in Northumberland and County Durham are able to obtain their fair share of the popular brands of tobacco and cigarettes?
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Lyttelton)As was stated in the reply given on 6th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Newcastle (Mr. Denville), the recent temporary acute shortage of tobacco and cigarettes in the North-East of England was primarily due to dislocation of transport services to that area owing to the very heavy snow fall. I understand that supplies are now arriving and that Northumberland and Durham should shortly receive again their fair share of tobacco and cigarettes.
Mr. ScottIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the maldistribution still continues and is causing a certain amount of annoyance and irritation to would-be smokers and is a real hardship to a great many small shopkeepers?
§ Mr. LawsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that pretty much the same answer as he has now given was given last week? There are no cigarettes to be got at all.
§ Mr. R. J. TaylorIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I left last night and there were no cigarettes?
§ Mr. LytteltonI have said they will be shortly arriving.
§ Mr. DenvilleWhen is this blockade of Newcastle and the North-East Coast going to stop?