§ 71. Captain Profumoasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will consider the possibility of allowing extra rations of cheese and cooked meat to ironstone pit manual workers, many of whom are away from their homes for a period of 12 hours, which necessitates them taking their food with them and who are required to work in the open in all kinds of weather?
Major Lloyd GeorgeIn deciding what categories of worker should be given the special cheese ration, my Department have the benefit of the advice of a special committee set up by the Trades Union Congress. The case of the ironstone workers is not considered to justify the grant of the special ration. Every encouragement, however, is given by my Department to the provision of canteens by employers of labour for the distribution of previously prepared meals for consumption at their work by workers in the position of the ironstone pit workers. I am sending my hon. Friend particulars of these arrangements.