§ Sir H. Williamsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, having regard to the fact that under the provisions of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Food (Canned Fish) Order 1592W (S.R. & O. No. 962 of 1943), it is provided that a first hand distributor means either a person who has bought from the Minister or an importer, or a home canner, from what source he proposes to obtain those supplies to enable him to supply first hand distributors, without himself becoming a first hand distributor?
§ Mr. MabaneThe expression "first hand distributor" is usually applied to the distributor obtaining goods from my Department. While I do not fully understand my hon. Friend's Question, I presume that his difficulty arises from the alternative definitions of a first hand distributor as an importer or a canner. These definitions cover respectively canned fish which was privately imported before my Department began importing and home produced canned fish sold by the canner direct to wholesalers or retailers. In neither of these cases do the supplies pass through the Ministry, and the question of my Noble Friend himself becoming a first hand distributor therefore does not arise.