HC Deb 25 March 1946 vol 421 c35
91. Mr. Cobb

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any information about the proposal for a census of distribution.

The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)

I have received the Report of the Census of Distribution Committee which, I am glad to say, is unanimous. They recommend that a census of distribution should be taken in respect of 1948, and subsequently at intervals of not more than five years. The full census should be preceded by a pilot census, limited to a few areas, to be taken as soon as possible. These recommendations have been accepted by His Majesty's Government. The report has been presented to Parliament, and will be issued some time this week. His Majesty's Government wish me to express their thanks to all the members of the Committee for the thorough investigation of this difficult subject that they have made and for their very lucid report.

Mr. Cobb

While I thank the Minister for his most interesting and illuminating reply, may I ask if he is aware that before the war one out of every four workers was engaged in distribution? Can we afford so high a proportion in the future, having regard to the fact that this is a matter of urgency?

Mr. Morrison

That is one of the elements of fact we wish to draw out.