§ 57. Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there is an acute shortage of points goods such as dried fruit and biscuits in the country districts around Leeds while these goods are considerably more plentiful in Leeds itself; and whether he will give an assurance that supplies of such goods to country areas in the West Riding of Yorkshire are being distributed on an equal basis with those for the larger towns.
§ Dr. SummerskillWhile there is a shortage of some of the more popular points foods, it is not confined to country districts. Greater shopping facilities in Leeds may give the impression of more plentiful supplies, but my inquiries do not suggest that shops in Leeds are better supplied in proportion to the population than those in the surrounding country districts. Dried fruits and most canned points goods are distributed on the basis of registrations and there is, therefore, equality of distribution in all areas.
§ Colonel RopnerWould the hon. Lady make further inquiries, because I can assure her that the information she has received from her Department is quite wrong?
§ Dr. SummerskillThe hon. and gallant Member has probably forgotten that in towns, shops regard a window display as a great feature of their trade, and, therefore, when an allocation arrives a lot of it goes into the window. In villages the shopkeeper is not dependent upon passing trade, and consequently he has not such an excellent display.
§ Colonel RopnerMay I ask the hon. Lady whether she is aware that in villages in my constituency these particular goods are quite unobtainable whereas in Leeds it is perfectly easy to buy them?
§ Dr. SummerskillThat is not my information.
§ Mr. George PorterDoes not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that a considerable number of the people referred to by the hon. and gallant Member for Barkston Ash (Colonel Ropner) come into Leeds to buy the goods from those shops?
§ Dr. SummerskillYes, Sir.