§ Mr. Sextonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that householders living at Middleton-in-Teesdale, Newbiggin, Forest and Harwood, must travel to Barnard Castle, distances of from eight to 18 miles, to receive the new ration books; and whether he will consider, in the interests of transport and convenience to householders, having sub-offices as was done on the occasions of former issues of ration books?
§ Mr. MabaneThis year's distribution of documents, which include the new identity card, is not comparable with that of last year, and it is not possible for my Department to set up a large number of sub-offices. The issue is to be spread out over a number of weeks, and detailed arrangements will be at the discretion of the local officers of the Ministry who will do all they can within the limits imposed by considerations of security, man-power and the essential intricacy of the procedure to minimise the inconvenience which is inevitable for some members of the public.