§ 67. Mrs. Middletonasked the Minister of Food whether he will arrange that licences to ex-Servicemen to start businesses for the retailing of greengroceries and fruit carry with them a guarantee that the men to whom such licences are granted shall be enabled to obtain a fair allocation of whatever supplies of greengroceries and fruit are available.
§ Mr. StracheyThe hon. Member is aware of course that the only fruit and vegetables affected are a small part of the whole—mainly imports—since these are the only fruit and vegetables the distribution of which we control. However, I will re-examine the whole question of whether the newly licensed shops should not get their share of this stuff.
§ Mrs. MiddletonThank you very much.
§ Mr. DumpletonIs the Minister aware that the allocation of supplies to these men when they receive their licences is in the hands of a local committee of competitive traders, who often prevent them from getting the supplies they ought 2002 to have to carry on the business for which they have been licensed?
§ Mr. StracheyThat could only be concerned with imported fruits and vegetables, which form a very small part of the whole. In the cases to which I think the hon. Lady referred, they have not been granted up to now by the local committees.
§ Mrs. MiddletonWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the case of ex-Servicemen trying to start up in business who find it impossible to stabilise their business because they are unable to get fruit and vegetables which are in short supply?
§ Mr. StracheyThose are the cases I have in mind.