§ 9. Mr. GEORGE FABERasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether at certain military hospitals in this country our nurses' morning and afternoon teas have lately been stopped; and whether those or such like indulgencies are still permitted to be enjoyed at Donington Hall and other officer-prisoners' camps in this country?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am not aware that this is so. Nurses have their own messes and make their own arrangements. Officer prisoners of war are at liberty to have afternoon tea, provided that the limitations placed on their purchases of certain articles of food are not exceeded.
§ Mr. FABERWill the hon. Gentleman explain the allegation in the first part of my question? Can the hon. Gentleman tell me, without notice, whether in certain military hospitals in this country, the nursing staff is getting no sugar at all?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI will make inquiry.
§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEWill the hon. Gentleman make inquiry at the Hospital for Officers in Carlton House Terrace?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONYes.
27. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary for Scotland what arrangements, have been made to supply bee-keepers in Scotland with sufficient sugar to keep their bee-stocks alive over the spring; whether arrangements have been made with Messrs. Pascall to supply medicated candy for the purpose; whether he is, aware that most bee-keepers object to medicated candy; what price is charged by Messrs. Pascall for this medicated candy; and by how much does it exceed the price of sugar?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD CONTROL (Captain Bathurst)Arrangements were made by the Sugar Commission with Messrs. James Pascall, Limited, to supply 1831 medicated candy for this purpose. I have no reason to think that bee-keepers object to its use. Messrs. Pascall are charging at the rate of 4s. 7d. for 5 lbs. of medicated candy, exclusive of postage, or about twice the price of sugar.
Mr. SCOTTCan the hon. Gentleman say why bee-keepers should have to pay twice the price for sugar to keep their bees alive?
Captain BATHURSTIt would appear to be a good investment to have a large amount of sugar and material thus rendered available for public consumption without any large expenditure of human effort.
Mr. SCOTTMay I ask who receives the 100 per cent, on the price of sugar; does it go to the Sugar Commission?
§ 56. Mr. FABERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the fact that numbers of poor people in this country are unable to purchase the prescribed weekly allowance of 12 ozs. of sugar unless they are prepared to purchase other articles of diet at the same time, and, considering that enemy prisoners of war and 30,000 interned enemy aliens in this country are to be provided weekly with 12 ozs. of sugar per head, he can find it possible to provide similar facilities for our own people?
Captain BATHURSTThe Food Controller since the issue of voluntary rations has been in communication with the War Office, and an Army Council Instruction was issued last week limiting the sugar ration for civilian and combatant prisoners of war to 7 ozs. per week.