HC Deb 29 November 1948 vol 458 cc1614-5
25. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

asked the Minister of Food why he has refused adequate flour supplies to Mr. John Gray, of Wallacetown Bakery, 25, Content Street, Ayr, in view of the fact that Mr. Gray is an ex-Service man himself and employs ex-Service men, whom he will have to discharge unless he gets the extra allocation of flour necessary to keep them occupied.

The Minister of Food (Mr. Strachey)

My Parliamentary Secretary has written to the hon. and gallant Member explaining that Mr. Gray is already getting all the flour to which he is entitled under the Flour Restriction Scheme.

Sir T. Moore

But does the right hon. Gentleman realise that his action in this matter has thrown three of my constituents—ex-Service men—out of work and is also damping down the enthusiasm and initiative of their employer in exercising his normal trade, which he is asked to do on every hoarding in the country?

Mr. Strachey

I am afraid we cannot give him more flour than he has been getting in the datum period which, under the scheme, is last year.