HC Deb 20 April 1943 vol 388 cc1519-20
22. Sir I. Fraser

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the importance of maintaining as many small shopkeepers, food and non-food, as possible and of their special difficulties, whether he will release higher quotas of goods to them than hitherto?

Mr. Dalton

As the House is aware, I have already made arrangements to assure small retailers in clothing, pottery and hollow-ware their fair share of the limited supplies now available. I am informed by the Chairmen of the Committees who supervise the schemes that these are work- ing satisfactorily. Food retail trade is the concern not of the Board of Trade, but of the Ministry of Food.

Sir I. Fraser

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the point that the smaller the shop the greater its difficulties, and see whether he can get them even more supplies?

Mr. Dalton

I am glad to say that since the fair-shares scheme for the small shopkeeper was introduced, I have had no complaint at all from this quarter. The evidence is that it is working very satisfactorily.