§ 50 and 51. Mr. LEACHasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) whether he is aware that butter and not margarine is served to the air forces in all the British Dominions, the United States of America, Norway, Sweden, and Soviet Russia; and whether he will reconsider the decision to continue the issue of margarine and not butter to the Royal Air Force;
(2) why so low-priced and inferior a grade of margarine is selected for the Air Force; why the ration is only one ounce per day per man; and why, when puddings containing margarine figure on the menu, the amount available to the men for their bread is correspondingly reduced?
§ Sir P. SASSOONAs regards the first question, I do not think I can usefully add to my recent replies to other questions on this subject. As regards the second, I do not think that a discussion whether the grade of margarine used is inferior or the ration of it inadequate could suitably be carried on within the scope of a Parliamentary reply: it. is a difficult question in which considerations of comparative food values and calory content are involved. As regards the last part of question number 51, the purchase of margarine for puddings does not necessarily involve a corresponding reduction in the amount for eating with bread, the position being that the distribution of the money allowance over various items of food is at the discretion of the messing officer and there is therefore a certain amount of give-and-take between the constituents of the ration.
§ Mr. LEACHIs it a fact that the cheap margarine which the Air Force is so unjustifiably using in summer time is barely distinguishable from axle oil?
§ Mr. SHINWELLIn the search for recruits for the Air Force, will they be 1372 informed that margarine is one of the principal items of the ration?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSHas the right hon. Gentleman no consideration for British agriculture?