§ 27. Mr. Sutcliffeasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that many bakers are not able to satisfy the increased demands 821 of their customers for bread; and if he will now permit unused stocks to be transferred from one baker to another, or increase the flour allocation where the need is proved.
§ Mr. StracheyI am not aware of a general shortage in any area, and I cannot promise any relaxation of the Flour Restriction Scheme to allow individual bakers to cater for increased demands. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 1st November to a Question by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Dodds-Parker).
§ Mr. SutcliffeIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that progressive bakers are being penalised and in some cases have had to abandon delivery rounds which they started when bread rationing was abolished. They are being penalised, whereas some small bakers have more stocks than they are using. Would it not be sensible to allow small bakers to transfer their surplus stocks to the larger bakers and thus avoid the temptation to them to deal on the black market?
§ Mr. StracheyIt is perfectly true that any restriction scheme is undesirable because it does interfere with competition between different bakers, which is highly desirable, and we shall get rid of the restriction scheme as soon as we possibly can. We cannot, however, do without a restriction scheme at the moment.
§ Mr. SutcliffeWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the point which I have made?
§ Mr. StracheyCertainly.