§ Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in order to equalise conditions and avoid complaints of undue stringency in one town as compared with others, he will prepare a general scheme for the rationalisation of retail deliveries, to be made applicable, with minor local variations, to all towns and require all such schemes to come into operation on the same day, say 1st July, 1942?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerWhen my Noble Friend, together with the President of the Board of Trade, and the Minister of Food, launched the present plans for rationalising retail deliveries, they explained the objects in view and suggested ways in which these objects could be attained. The methods of detailed execution were left for local decision in the light of local conditions. It is plain that no uniform scheme would be equally appropriate for large towns, small towns, suburbs, villages and rural areas. The schemes are brought into operation as soon as they are ready, but they can be adjusted and improved later, as experience may dictate. In this way we secure the desired economies at the earliest practicable date. About 2,000 schemes are already working.