Mr. T. WILSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if 43W he is aware that every member in a house-hold that wishes to be supplied with sugar has, among other particulars asked for on the form they have to fill up, to give their ages, and that these forms pass through the hands of the proprietor of the shop and his assistants, down to the errand boy; if he is aware that this is causing dissatisfaction and annoyance to a number of people; and whether he will issue instructions that the particulars re age need not be given, or that it will be sufficient if each person over, say, thirty years of age may describe himself or herself as over that age?
Mr. PARKERAs I have already stated, particulars of date of birth have been required under the Sugar Distribution Scheme, first, in cases of doubt to afford individuals a simpler and more expeditious method of proving their identity than would otherwise be possible, and, secondly, in order that the particulars of age thus given may be taken into account in connection with any general scheme which may hereafter be established for rationing essential foods for the purposes of determining the appropriate scale of allowances in each case. The forms on which these particulars are given pass through the hands of the retailer in a sealed envelope. I am not aware of any material dissatisfaction or annoyance at this requirement, the reasons for which are, I believe, well understood; and in the circumstances I am not prepared to issue the instructions proposed by the hon. Member in the last part of the question.