§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether small traders whose registered customers went elsewhere on the announcement that their supplies of rationed food would be withdrawn will now be permitted to return to the said traders so as to enable them to receive considerate treatment from the authorities?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThere is no reason why consumers who desire to reregister with their former retailers who gave up their trade in rationed food on 337W account of the introduction of the 25 registration rule, should not apply to the Food Offices to do so; or why, if the total number desiring transfer does not amount in the case of any one retailer to 25, the Food Control Committees should refuse the applications if they are satisfied that they should do so because of hardship to individual small traders or on account of convenience to customers.
§ Captain Pilkingtonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is the policy of the Ministry to make more use of small traders for the storage of food rather than to rely on large dumps in different parts of the country which are liable to be the cause of mass destruction of food if they receive hits from enemy bombing?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe Ministry aims at achieving the maximum dispersal of food stocks consistent with good warehousing. A large number of small traders' premises are utilised for this purpose.