THE EARL OF AIRLIEhad given Notice of the following question: In view of the rationing of bread which is about to be brought into force, will His Majesty's Government be prepared to consider carefully the very special circumstances of the glen people in Scotland, who, owing to frequent severe winter conditions, in normal times used to lay in stores of oatmeal, white flour for keeping purposes and other commodities in November, in order to carry them over the winter when roads are often blocked by snow for long periods; and whether His Majesty's Government will undertake to issue special regulations to allow them to draw rations in advance to avoid a repetition of the unnecessary hardships incurred during the war due to weather conditions, and also to allow a larger ration of oatmeal and flour to be issued owing to the scarcity of other forms of food which are not available in the glens but are available to people in less out of the way parts of the country.
§ LORD AMMONNo special regulations are required to enable the glen people in Scotland to obtain bulk supplies of oatmeal to carry them over the difficult periods when roads are blocked with snow. The present regulations allow Divisional Food Officers to exercise discretion in this matter. Advance supplies of rationed commodities are freely drawn against the cancellation of the appropriate ration documents, on application, by any person whose circumstances justify it. I regret that it will not be possible to grant an additional allowance of oatmeal and flour to people who live in remote areas.