HC Deb 05 December 1944 vol 406 c342
34. Mr. Storey

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in allocating supplies of blankets and sheets, he will give preference to the development areas.

Mr. Dalton

Preference is given, not to particular areas, but, as stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton (Mr. Summers) on the 7th November, to particular classes of people with special needs.

Mr. Storey

Will the Minister remember that, in the development areas, the stocks were very low, owing to the depression, even before the war; and will he therefore give some preference to these areas?

Mr. Dalton

Yes, Sir, I know that only too well, but I repeat that preference is not given to areas as such, but to particular classes of persons, and, if there is a particular area with large numbers of such persons, that area will get more.

Mr. Bowles

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I know persons who cannot get them? What is the position? How do they get them?

Mr. Dalton

Would my hon. Friend be kind enough to read the rather full answer which I gave on 7th November, to which I have referred?