HC Deb 20 March 1946 vol 420 cc1863-5
50. Mr. Marples

asked the Minister of Food why he is insisting that importers without selling or wholesale premises should sell through first hand salesmen to wholesalers; and whether he will consider allowing them to sell direct to wholesalers as in prewar days.

Dr. Summerskill

Importers, whether they have selling premises or not, may sell direct to wholesalers. They may not themselves act as wholesalers unless they did so before the war and hold a whole sale licence.

Mr. Marples

Is the hon. Lady aware that these first hand salesmen are additional middlemen between the tomatoes and the public, and will she look into the matter again?

Dr. Summerskill

The first hand sales man and the wholesaler have the same licence, and the importer can deal with either. He does not have to deal with both. They are not an extra link in our chain of distribution.

51. Mr. Marples

asked the Minister of Food why he has introduced into the distribution machinery for tomatoes from the Canary Islands a superfluous category known as first hand salesmen; whether he is aware that these men were not used before the war and that they will serve no function other than raising the retail selling price; and whether he proposes to establish first hand salesmen pools for the distribution of other fresh fruits and vegetables which he has promised to have imported from the Continent.

Dr. Summerskill

If the hon. Member is referring to the two associations which have been established to secure as far as possible equitable distribution of Canary Island tomatoes, these are in no sense an additional or superfluous category of distributors. They do not affect the importer's freedom to sell to any wholesaler. The answer to the last part of the Question is "No, Sir."

Mr. Marples

Is the hon. Lady aware that a certain group of importers of Canary tomatoes did offer to bring them across to this country and sell them to the public cheaper, provided that the first hand salesmen were dispensed with?

Dr. Summerskill

I think the hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. These organisations are sponsored by the Ministry of Food, but they are non-profit . making. There is no question of their getting an extra margin. We set them up merely for the purpose of ensuring equitable distribution of the avail able tomatoes.

Mr. Chamberlain

Will my hon. Friend examine again the Tomatoes Order of October, 1945, in which she will find there are additional middlemen?

Dr. Summerskill

I am very anxious that additional middlemen should not be introduced. I can assure the hon. Gentle man that I have examined these Orders very closely, and I cannot agree with him.

Mr. Collins

Is the hon. Lady aware that there is a distinct difference between the Ministry's definition of a first hand sale or a first hand salesman in the Tomatoes Order, 1941, and the Tomatoes Order, 1945, and that it is a fact that, if a first hand salesman does not make a profit, he receives a definite, substantial and almost totally unearned increment?

Mr. Marples

What happens to the difference between the buying and the selling price of the tomatoes paid to and received by the first hand salesman?

Dr. Summerskill

Of course, we have middlemen at the moment. What I have told the House is that we have not introduced any additional link in our chain. During the war, when we set up our machinery of distribution, we decided to use the men who were functioning in the particular industry, which I think was equitable, and for the time being we are using them; but I cannot at the moment tell the hon. Gentleman what the shape of things to come will be.