§ 23. Mr. Gilbert Longdenasked the Minister of Food whether, unless he is now able to de-ration sugar, he will alter the method of allocating it to manufacturing businesses so that firms other than those who were in business in 1939 may share what is available.
Dr. HillMethods of allocating scarce ingredients to food manufacturers are under consideration, and my right hon. and gallant Friend hopes shortly to be able to consult the trades concerned.
§ Mr. LongdenDoes my hon. Friend not agree that the time has come when this sort of private enterprise should be encouraged, and is not the present system, 386 which I appreciate my hon. Friend has inherited, rather like decreeing that anyone born after 1939 is not to be entitled to rations?
Dr. HillI dislike intensely the system under which allocations are made wholly on the basis of pre-war datum usage, and my right hon. and gallant Friend is considering modifications in that system.