HC Deb 02 February 1956 vol 548 c131W
68. Mr. C. Howell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has considered a case, details of which have been sent to him, where a wholesaler has refused to supply tinned salmon to a retailer he has previously supplied since rationing was in force and this commodity was issued on a permit; and, in view of these facts, if he will now reconsider his refusal to re-institute distribution control in the case of foods in short supply.

Mr. Nugent

My right hon. Friend has considered the case referred to by the hon. Member, but he is not prepared to intervene, since a wholesaler is free to sell his canned salmon as he thinks fit. We have no evidence that the trade generally is not distributing the available supplies as fairly as possible, and we are not prepared to re-introduce distribution controls.