Mr. Gandar Dowerasked the Minister of Food if he will consider making arrangements whereby householders in the North of Scotland, in some cases living 6o miles from the nearest railway station, will be permitted to purchase their winter supply of oatmeal in bulk.
§ Mr. StracheyArrangements already exist for the bulk purchase of oatmeal by people living in remote areas.
Following are the instructions issued:
1. The following standing instructions were issued in 1943:
- (1) Emergency Stocks for Consumers.—Where the D.F.O. is satisfied that people living in isolated areas will be unable to obtain regular food supplies in severe weather conditions he is authorised to allow them to purchase all rationed and points rationed foods except meat and bacon one four weekly period in advance during the rationing periods beginning 12th December, 1943, 9th January, 6th February, and 5th March, 1944, and during the corresponding periods in each successive winter season.
- (2) Where such arrangements are made, consumers who spend their points coupons in advance of the period indicated on them will not be entitled to an adjustment if the points for that rationing period should subsequently be increased.
2. On 1st August, 1946, the following additional instruction was issued:
The arrangements for the bulk purchase of oatmeal and flour throughout the year by people in the Highlands and Islands will be similar to those outlined in D.L.O.I 927 (Emergency Stocks for Consumers) and will be left to the discretion of the Divisional 376W Food Officers concerned. Supplies will be made under the Points Rationing and Bread Rationing Orders and will NOT be free of points or bread units.3. On 19th November a letter was sent to the four Divisional Food Officers in Scotland emphasising that the letter of 1st August gave them the fullest discretion
- (i) to apply the instructions to any remote area in Scotland likely to be isolated, and
- (ii) to permit the use of coupons for a number of ration periods in advance.