§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of 478W Food why London, the most difficult centre of population to supply, was selected for the rationing experiment; and when it is proposed to extend the system of rations to the Midlands and the North?
Mr. PARKERLocal rationing schemes are being put into force in all parts of the country, and very many of these are already at work. The only difference in the case of the London scheme is that the committees in the London and Home Counties divisions asked the Ministry of Food to prepare, on their behalf, a uniform scheme for the whole area, and this was accordingly done. There would clearly have been grave disadvantages in applying different local schemes to different parts of a single town like London. As the result of local action, practically all important centres of population already have or will very shortly have, schemes of rationing for butter and margarine in operation. In respect of meat, the Food Controller has decided to apply a uniform system of meat rationing to the whole of Great Britain as from 25th March. In the meantime, committees in districts where queues are still prevalent are being urged to adopt temporary registration schemes.