§ 127. Mr. Cooper-Keyasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to give effect to the request contained in the letter, dated 13th July, 1946, addressed to his Department by the Hastings and St. Leonards Chamber of Commerce on the subject of area percentage figures and to ensure that the allocation of supplies of goods to this locality are on a similar basis to towns which were not in the front line and whose local traders did rot suffer from a ban of nearly five years on their livelihood.
§ Sir S. CrippsI have no reason to think that manufacturers and wholesalers are in general still basing their supplies to front line towns and evacuated areas on the obsolete area percentage figures published at the end of 1942, but in order to remove any doubt I will draw the attention of the trade associations concerned to the fact that these figures no longer accurately represent the position. My present information is that Hastings is receiving its fair share of scarce goods and my regional distribution officers have instructions to keep a careful watch on supplies in areas specially affected by the war.