Viscountess Astorasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered representations about the inability of retail confectioners in some places to get their share of chocolates and other sweets, which bears very hardly upon many children; and whether he will take steps to remedy this?
Major Lloyd GeorgeDemands for confectionery have increased while total supplies have had to be very substantially reduced, and out of these certain priority claims must be met. Instructions have, however, been issued designed to limit priority orders to essential needs, so as to leave as large a proportion as practicable available for sale through ordinary trade channels. The proportion of cheaper goods produced is being further increased at the expense of the dearer. The industry are endeavouring to distribute reduced supplies equitably on the basis of pre-war purchases adjusted in the light of present distribution of population.