52. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Food whether he can now make a 1159 statement regarding the date of his intention to abolish bread rationing and the B.U. system having special regard to the fact that the B.U. system is now largely ineffective in most parts of the country.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Dr. Edith Summerskill)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. S. Marshall) on 11th February.
Mr. De la BèreDoes the Minister realize that in all parts of the country thousands upon thousands of the public are simply not practising bread rationing and that it has degenerated into a farce? How long does her Ministry propose to perpetuate this folly?
§ Dr. SummerskillI do not realise that at all, but as the hon. Member seems to have some intimate knowledge of these transactions perhaps he would like to see one of our enforcement officers.
Mr. De la BèreHon. Members in this House can tell the hon. Lady that the practice of buying bread without bread units is widespread in every district. In view of the fact that the Minister is not aware of what is a well-known fact, I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.