§ 24. Colonel LESLIE WILSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in order to check extravagance in public restaurants and hotels, to encourage economy in the use of foodstuffs, and to remove the distinction at present existing, he will issue 994 orders that the price of meals in hotels and restaurants shall not exceed those at present in force for officers and men in uniform?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Mr. Clynes)As I am informed, the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil last Wednesday, in the case of cheap restaurants there is a limit of price but not limit of quantity; in the case of more expensive restaurants there is a limit of quantity but not of price. It is not clear that the further restriction which the question suggests would limit the consumption of essential foodstuffs.
§ Colonel WILSONAre the Government prepared to encourage extravagance among civilians and rightly prohibit it to soldiers and sailors?
§ Mr. CLYNESNo such extravagance is encouraged. What we say is that in the case of the more costly restaurants the expenditure on costly foods, like oysters and peaches, assists in reducing the consumption of essential foodstuffs.