HC Deb 19 March 1931 vol 249 cc2137-8
54. Mr. SORENSEN

asked the hon. Member for the Gorton Division, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, the total receipts for, respectively, Imperial and British alcoholic liquor, cigars, and cigarettes sold in the House of Commons during 1928 and 1930?

Mr. COMPTON

As the Kitchen Committee do not keep separate records of the receipts for. Imperial and British acoholic liquor, etc., it will, I regret, be impossible for me to supply the hon. Member with the numerous statistical details mentioned in his question.

Mr. SORENSEN

Would it be possible for the hon. Gentleman to provide information, on the one hand, as to the amounts of foreign liquor, cigars and cigarettes consumed, and a statement of the total amount sold?

Mr. COMPTON

The Kitchen Committee is a feeding, and not a statistical, Department.

Mr. SORENSEN

Does the hon. Gentleman keep accounts in connection with his Department; and, if so, would it not be possible for him to discover just what proportion of these goods manufactured in this country or in our Empire are consumed by Members of the Conservative party?

Mr. COMPTON

The accounts are audited, and it would be possible for us to get out the details, but I have decided that the expense involved would net be justified.