HC Deb 25 November 1946 vol 430 cc1241-2
17. Miss Bacon

asked the Minister of Food if he will grant supplies to enable those who volunteered for work of national importance to reopen their businesses, as is done in the case of those who were directed to such work.

Mr. Strachey

No such distinction is made by my Department.

Miss Bacon

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I have been in communication with him and his Department about supplies to an ice-cream merchant and that I have been told in correspondence that this distinction does exist?

Mr. Strachey

Perhaps we can take the matter up again, but I am informed that we make no such distinction. If in this particular case there may have been some reasons for a distinction, I should like to examine it again with the hon. Member.

21. Mrs. Castle

asked the Minister of Food if, in order to allow the efficient shopkeeper to expand his business, he will arrange in future to distribute points goods to retailers on the basis of their current turnover, assessed annually, instead of on the basis of their turnover in 1943, when the points system was introduced.

Mr. Strachey

As I said in reply to the same Question on 6th November, we are considering my hon. Friend's suggestion and related questions of distribution. A preliminary discussion has now been held with traders' representatives but, at the moment, I cannot add anything to my earlier reply.