asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food which Department was responsible for the dupli- cation of national registration and the issue of ration books; and will he take steps to ensure that the experiment will not be repeated?

The responsibility for the arrangements to which the hon. Member a refers is shared by the Ministry of Food and the Registrar General's Departments. I can give no undertaking as to the procedure likely to be adopted if any general re-issue of identity cards again became necessary.