HC Deb 10 September 1941 vol 374 cc184-5
46. Major Lyons

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the number of small shopkeepers in the city of Leicester from whom licences to trade with registered customers have been withdrawn and for what reasons?

Major Lloyd George

The number of small shopkeepers in Leicester from whom the supply of one or more rationed food has been withdrawn is 179. The reason for the withdrawal is that the traders concerned are not regarded as fulfilling the conditions mentioned in the instructions to food control committees referred to in the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Kettering (Captain Profumo) on 22nd July.

Major Lyons

In view of the serious state of affairs disclosed, will my right hon. and gallant Friend look into this matter on behalf of the small shopkeepers?

Major Lloyd George

Of course, I am prepared to look into any case which my hon. and gallant Friend puts to me. But very special steps have been taken to avoid causing hardship to these small traders. It is not the intention or the wish of the Ministry that any legitimate trader should be barred from trading, and it is open to any trader in such circumstances to make a complaint.

Mr. Rhys Davies

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that between the dates upon which the statement was made that the less than 25 rationed customers were to be taken away from shopkeepers and the official statement about considering cases of hardship later, many small shopkeepers have seen their businesses destroyed altogether?

Major Lloyd George

I could not possibly accept that statement. [Interruption.] It is not altogether so, because even in cases where the figures do not come up to the requisite amount and in cases when the trader himself has thought it not worth while proceeding investigations have been made. Where genuine hardship is involved, the business in rationed commodities will not be taken away.

Mr. Levy

How does my right hon. and gallant Friend reconcile the statement that no hardship shall be caused to these small shopkeepers with his admission that in many cases he is shutting them up?

Major Lloyd George

My hon. Friend must not mix up the genuine traders with the large number of people who are trading only to get extra rations for themselves. The sole purpose of this order was to put out of business people who are not genuine traders. It was not the wish or the intention of the Ministry that genuine traders should suffer.

Major Lyons

Has my right hon. and gallant Friend any information as to how many people fall into the category of not being genuine traders? The statement has been made, and I ask him to justify it.

Major Lloyd George

I have not the figures with me, but I will certainly get them. I ask my hon. and gallant Friend to accept my statement that we do not intend to put genuine traders out of business.