§ 70. Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Food why Mr. G. Sutherland, 721, Ormskirk Road, Pemberton, Wigan, Ioo per cent. disabled from the last war, has been refused an ice cream licence.
§ Dr. SummerskillMr. Sutherland has been given a licence to sell chocolate and sugar confectionery and a fairly wide range of points foods, although he was not in the retail food trade before the war. He is not entitled to an allocation of rationed foods for making ice cream, and as these ingredients are still scarce I regret that we cannot do anything more for him at present.
§ Mr. HardyIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the reason why this man was not in business before the war was because he was a teacher? Is she further aware that he is now 100 per cent. disabled? When will he be able 796 to qualify so that he may have a reasonable existence? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that he is receiving only £3.5s. a week pension for himself, his wife and one child, and that they have struggled with the Department to get a few points to bring them in 15s. a week? I ask the hon. Lady to take a more reasonable and humane view with regard to this man who is 100 per cent. disabled.
§ Dr. SummerskillI do not think it is quite fair for my hon. Friend to suggest that we are being ungenerous to this man. He was a teacher before the war, and although he is not entitled to an allocation of certain foods, we have given him licences to sell a very large number of foods, and in addition he has a licence for cigarettes and tobacco.