§ 102. Mr. Lambertasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that one thousand farmers and farm workers in Devonshire require Thermos flasks; and what steps he has taken to remedy the shortage; and when flasks in sufficient quantity will be available.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe distribution of permits to buy Thermos flasks is undertaken by the farmers' and farmworkers' organisations, which consider the needs of each county, but as my Department's allocation is only 14,000 permits a month for the whole of England and Wales, applicants have to wait their turn for flasks as for other scarce goods. I understand that it is not likely that the total allocation can be increased immediately, but I would point out that farmers and farmworkers receive nearly 50 per cent. of the production under the present scheme.