§ 58. Mr. Collinsasked the Minister of Food if he is now in a position to announce the arrangements whereby wholesalers without 1939 entitlement will be permitted to deal in citrus fruits, bananas, and other fruits at present subject to allocation or import restriction.
§ Mr. StracheyI am not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject, but hope to do so fairly soon.
§ Mr. CollinsCan my right hon. Friend give any indication of how long it will be before we can expect that statement, because it has been under consideration for some 18 months?
§ Mr. StracheyIt is a question of the degree to which the supply is meeting public demand as to what extent we can free this trade. I am very anxious to do so, as my hon. Friend probably knows.
§ Mr. TurtonWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that under his present dispensation it is much easier for large businesses to get an allocation than a small business in a small village and will he endeavour to correct that anomaly?
§ Mr. StracheyI would not agree with that contention.