HC Deb 10 May 1944 vol 399 cc1904-5
56. Mr. Keeling

asked the Minister of Food if he can now say to what extent it is the practice to refuse supplies of oranges, lemons and tomatoes to men pensioned from the Army on the ground that they were not in business in 1940; and whether he proposes to redress this injustice to ex-Service men.

Mr. Mabane

New retailers of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers are treated precisely the same as other retailers to whom new licences are granted. The last part of my hon. Friend's Question does not therefore arise.

Mr. Keeling

Does the Minister not appreciate that it is not the soldier's fault that he was not in business in 1940, because he was in the Army? Is it really considered just that, when soldiers have been told that they are going to be given facilities to trade, they should be treated like this?

Mr. Mabane

The hon. Member has gone wrong in one important particular. The relevant date is not 1940 but 1939, and that makes all the difference.

Mr. Keeling

That does not really make any difference to the principle, and, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter again.

61. Sir Waldron Smithers

asked the Minister of Food whether the licensing policy to allow ex-service men to resume trading after the war includes milk retailers, their roundsmen and staff.

Mr. Mabane

No, Sir. The arrangements which my right hon. Friend recently announced for granting licences to ex-traders who have been discharged from the Forces to enable them to reopen their former businesses do not at present apply to milk retailers.

Sir W. Smithers

May I ask if the Minister will further consider this matter? Why are milk retailers not included, and why is it necessary to issue licences at all? Why cannot ex-Servicemen come back and resume their old occupations without this trouble?

Mr. Mabane

I am glad to be able to assure my hon. Friend that this matter is being very carefully considered. The reason for any difference in the treatment of milk retailers is that the methods of distribution of milk do not allow precisely the same arrangements to be made, but my right hon. Friend is considering the matter with the very greatest sympathy.

Mr. Keeling

Will my right hon. Friend consider oranges for ex-Servicemen at the same time?