§ Mr. Langasked the Minister of Food if it is upon his instructions that divisional food officers are refusing to support release from the Forces of owners of one-man businesses, except where the distribution of food is in jeopardy of breakdown; and if he will give instructions for a more generous attitude.
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§ Sir B. SmithI am glad of the opportunity of explaining what appears to be a general misconception about the responsibilities of my Department for recommending releases of men in the food distributive trades from the Armed Forces. The Ministry of Food is concerned only with releases under Class B of the demobilisation scheme, that is, releases on industrial grounds. My officers, therefore, are precluded, under arrangements approved for all Government Departments, from considering the case of any business on any ground except the adequacy of food distribution in the locality. They do, however, give careful consideration to every case where an essential business is in danger of closing down, or where the standard of service may still further deteriorate, and cause undue hardship to the public, if the release of a former employee cannot be secured. Many such cases have been sponsored. Compassionate cases, such as those mentioned by my hon. Friend, where a one-man business is concerned, but the distribution of food is not in jeopardy, are for consideration under Class C of the demobilisation scheme. As such they are a matter solely for the Service Department concerned and my officers may not intervene. My hon. Friend is no doubt aware that the Service Departments are now giving a wider and more liberal interpretation to compassionate grounds, and I have given instructions that an applicant should be informed forthwith as to the possibility of an application on compassionate grounds if such exist, so that he may, if he wishes, make the necessary representations through his commanding officer without loss of time.