Mr. De la Bèreasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the recent instructions sent out by his Department to the N.F.S. to centralise their bookkeeping has resulted in the purchase of foodstuffs being confined to the large suppliers and co-operative societies in a number of areas; and whether he will give an assurance that it is not the intention of his Department in these instructions to eliminate the small trader from supplying the N.F.S. stations throughout the country?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonThe instruction to which my hon. Friend refers provides that, wherever possible, foodstuffs are to be bought on a wholesale basis but that arrangements may be made to buy perishable articles of food locally from retail traders where this is more convenient, and other articles may be bought locally in rural areas. The objects of the instruction were to secure economies in administration and to ensure the provision of food supplies for the National Fire Service under proper control and on the best competitive terms.