§ Mr. H. Hyndasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that, owing to the fact that there will be no general re-registration for meat and groceries when the new ration book comes into operation, housewives will be deprived of the opportunity of changing their retailers for a period of 16 weeks; and whether he is prepared to shorten that period.
§ Mr. StracheyOwing to the pressure of work which always falls upon food offices during the eight weeks preceding and the eight weeks following the issue of new ration books I had to decide regretfully that the option to change retailers for meat and groceries should be withdrawn during that period. I realise, however, that this may be a hardship to some consumers and I propose therefore to reconsider the position as soon as the distribution of ration books is complete, to see if we can shorten the period without putting excessive strain on food offices.