HC Deb 16 February 1944 vol 397 cc178-9
54. Sir William Davison

asked the Minister of Food if he will take steps to remedy the disability suffered by members of the public who have to be at work between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. by reason of the fact that supplies of oranges, fish, cakes, &c., are only available between the hours mentioned and retailers are forbidden to reserve any supplies to which the applicant would be entitled when he visits their shop between 9 and 9.30 a.m. before going to work.

Colonel Llewellin

Yes, Sir. I am aware of the shopping difficulties of those who have to work most of the day and have no one to do their shopping for them, but there are many shops open before 10 a.m. selling the foodstuffs to which my hon. Friend refers.

Sir W. Davison

But the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has not answered the latter part of my Question, which points out that retailers are forbidden to reserve supplies for the people who come at 9.30 a.m. as they have to get to work at 10 a.m. The shop is open but the shopkeeper is not allowed to reserve oranges, or whatever it may be, for which his customer asks?

Colonel Llewellin

In the case which my hon. Friend brought to my notice, unfortunately the oranges were not available at the particular shop—which is a very good one from our point of view—until 10 o'clock that morning. There are difficulties in putting aside such goods as oranges under the counter. If people have been standing in a queue and goods are produced for a customer who has called earlier then calls back again, great difficulty arises.

Sir W. Davison

There is no question of putting things aside. A regular customer who has to go to work at 10 o'clock calls in at 9.30, presumably before the queue has arrived, and the goods could be put aside for him were it not for the prohibition of the Ministry.

Colonel Llewellin

We have asked them not to do that because other people think they have been kept for a privileged customer. But they are available; if not on that day, on the next one or two days oranges will be available at that shop.

Mr. E. Walkden

Could I ask the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, in defence of shop assistants and employees generally, whether the remedy for a matter like this does not lie with the local authorities and in a "get together" spirit being developed among all the parties represented in industry? It is very necessary to prevent people always blaming the shopkeeper.