§ 62. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Food what arrangements are being made to secure that smaller shop keepers in Newport obtain an equitable allocation of foods in short supply, such as jam, marmalade, biscuits, tinned vegetables, dried fruits, etc., since they have registered customers to whom they are unable to supply such articles; and why the multiple stores who frequently have no registered customers secure large supplies.
§ Dr. SummerskillShopkeepers in Newport get their jam, home-produced marmalade and dried fruits, on permits related to the number of their registered customers, to whom, I can assure my hon. Friend, they can certainly supply their proper share of these articles. Biscuits, and canned peas, and beans are on points, but though I have no reason to think that multiple stores are getting disproportionate supplies, I am at the moment reviewing the distribution of all points rationed foods.
§ Mr. FreemanIs my hon. Friend aware that multiple stores in general did not supply these goods on points before and. therefore, small shops are at a serious disadvantage now? Will she take that into account?
§ Dr. SummerskillYes, we will certainly go on taking that into account, but we do try to distribute these things to satisfy the needs of the different parts of the country.