HC Deb 22 September 1943 vol 392 cc232-3W
Sir I. Fraser

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can give an assurance that small retailers are given fair quantities of unrationed or points goods; that no favour is shown to multiple shops; and that the practice of displaying large quantities of unrationed or points goods towards the end of the registration period is discouraged by his Department?

Mr. Mabane

Immediately before the points scheme came into operation a fair share of the available supplies of goods coming into the scheme was allocated to all types of retailer. The quantity which any retailer has been able to obtain since has depended upon the volume of points he has received from his customers and the nature of his own purchases. As regards unrationed foods, in so far as my Department exercises control of distribution it arranges for allocations to be made on the basis of past trade, modified to take account of changes of population and regardless of the type of shop. In reply to the last part of the Question my Noble Friend has discouraged all practices on the part of shopkeepers which are designed to induce customers to change their registration.