§ 50. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Food why a greengrocery licence has been refused to Mr. Lloyd Abbott, 23, Newbridge Hill, Louth, who gave up his greengrocery business at Tetney on volunteering for service in 1939, and after serving four years abroad in the Royal Tank Regiment, purchased other premises that were previously used as grocers and general dealers.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Dr. Edith Summerskill)Mr. Lloyd Ablott has not applied for a licence to sell greengroceries. His application for a licence to sell groceries and for a catering licence was refused by the local Food Control Committee because they do not consider them necessary to meet consumer need, and because Mr. Ablott is not in the priority class. It is open to him to appeal to the divisional food officer against this decision if he wishes to do so.
§ Mr. OsborneIs the hon. Lady aware that this man is now drawing unemployment pay for the first time in his life because of the decision of her Department, and does she think that that is a fair reward for a man who has served for six years?
§ Dr. SummerskillI find that difficult to understand because on 25th November, 1946, we granted this man a licence to sell chocolate and sugar confectionery.
§ Mr. OsborneBut is it not a fact that the number of coupons the hon. Lady's Department gave the man was 1,800, which would produce him a profit of exactly 29s. a week, on which he is expected to keep a wife and child?