Lieut.-Colonel Guestasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that wholesale and retail providers in the Western counties are being subjected to continual inquiries for increased supplies of normal requirements by the civil population but which are beyond the permitted quota, this being consequent on the large increase of population in 174W these counties; and, as the present quota is insufficient to meet such increased requirements of the civil population, will he take steps to remedy the situation?
§ Mr. Lyttelton:The present quota is sufficient for essential needs provided it is distributed with due regard to the increased requirements of reception areas. On this I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies given on the 28th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall) and to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for East Cardiff (Mr. Temple Morris).
§ Sir C. Rawsonasked the President of the Board of Trade if the Limitation of Supplies (Miscellaneous) Order, 1940, with regard to the sale of sports goods can be relaxed in view of the present inconvenience caused to officers and men of the different branches of the Services and the hardship placed on sports dealers who are trying to keep their businesses alive and pay their rates and taxes, particularly in view of the fact that the shops are suffering from unfair trading arrangements comparable with the service department?
§ Captain Waterhouse:I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 11th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport (Sir R. Clarry).