§ 39. Sir J. D. REESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he has received the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General on the canteens organised by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic); and, if so, will he state the character of the Report?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYIf, as I believe to be the case, the hon. Member has in mind the Appropriation Account of the Ministry of Munitions for 1916–17 and the paragraphs 63 and 64 in that Report which refer to canteens, I am glad to say that the matter has been the subject of careful inquiry, and that the financial position of canteens in national factories has improved and is improving. In the recent Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General dated 8th April, 1918, the references to Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) are purely formal.
§ Sir J. D. REESDoes paragraph 63 of the Report, to which the hon. Gentleman refers, deal with wet as well as dry canteens, and is it not the case that, whereas the Ministry wish to provide meals at a reasonable cost for its employés, the President of the Liquor Control Board wants to popularise the canteens at any cost, and is running the country into from £20,000 to £25,000 for each individual canteen?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI do not think there is any conflict of view between the Ministry and the President of the Board of Control. The fact that the Second Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General is purely formal, and the first one was very critical, seems to indicate that there has been a marked improvement.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI should require notice of that question, but I should not be prepared to admit that there has been an actual loss.
Major NEWMANIs the hon. Gentleman aware that I asked him the same question six weeks ago and he promised to give me the information?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman wants the information, I shall be very glad to give it.