§ Mr. Mathersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will exempt oatcakes from any restrictions which may be applied to the manufacture of biscuits in view of the different nature of the product which does not make such a demand upon rationed materials?
§ Mr. MabaneI regret I am unable to accept my hon. Friend's suggestion. Oatcakes are by statutory Order defined as biscuits and as such they are already subject to price control, zoning of distribution and licensing of manufacturers. They are, at present, excluded from the points rationing scheme and while my Noble Friend has no specific proposal in mind it must not be assumed that the present position in this respect will persist indefinitely. It is the intention to apply to oatcakes the same cut in production as is being undertaken in regard to other forms of biscuits.