§ 95. Mr. G. Thomasasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the reasons for the present chronic shortage of cigarette supply.
§ Mr. Belcher:Public demand is greater than the shops can satisfy at all times 147W because stocks were run down to meet Service requirements and have not yet recovered. Supplies have, however, increased since October last, and I hope that if all cigarette smokers confine their purchases to meet their immediate needs the shops will again be able to build up their stocks.