§ Lieut.-Colonel Price-White asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the difficulties which face small retail clothiers at the present time, in view of the regulations obliging them to confine their orders to one wholesaler who, in many cases, is unable to accept any more orders; and whether he will in the near future take steps to introduce greater elasticity into the rules affecting the distribution of clothing goods of all descriptions.
§ Sir S. CrippsI am well aware of the difficulties of small retail clothiers in placing orders for goods that are in short supply. Retailers who have taken advantage of the scheme for ensuring fair shares of supplies for small retailers of clothing are entitled to claim as a minimum from each of their regular suppliers in 1939 prescribed percentages of their purchases in that year, and are allowed, where necessary, to transfer their claims to other suppliers.