§ 35. Mrs. Tateasked the hon. Member for Ipswich, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, the retail price of chicken bought in quantity, as priced on the House of Commons menu of 6th December at 10s. 6d. and 11s. per bird.
§ Sir John GanzoniThe price paid by the Kitchen Committee on 6th December for best quality Surrey fowls was 1s. 6d. per lb. of an average weight of about 4¼ lbs. which came to 6s. 6d. each.
§ Mrs. TateIs the hon. Gentleman aware that I have a letter from the largest suppliers of poultry in the country which shows that that statement is not in accordance with the facts?
§ Sir J. GanzoniThe prevailing price on that day was the price that this Committee paid. If the hon. Lady can supply them at a much lower figure, we shall be only too delighted to deal with her.
§ 36. Mrs. Tateasked the hon. Member for Ipswich, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, the retail price of the grapefruit served in the House of Commons dining-rooms on 6th December at 6d. per half portion.
§ Sir J. GanzoniThe price paid by the Kitchen Committee on 6th December for Jaffa grape-fruit was 13s. 6d. per case of 80.
§ Mrs. TateIf it is not possible for better food to be supplied at more reasonable prices in the House of Commons dining-rooms, could not the catering be put in the hands of a catering firm?
§ Sir J. GanzoniOwing to the heavy overhead expenses there are no catering firms, as far as we know, who will take the job on.
§ 37. Miss Horsbrughasked the hon. Member for Ipswich, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, which of the charges normally classed as running costs in a public restaurant, such as rent, rates, lighting, equipment, and wages, have to be met by the catering department of the House of Commons?
§ Sir J. GanzoniThe cost of the following have to be borne by the Kitchen Committee—wages, salaries, health and pension insurances, china, earthenware, glass, cutlery, plate, table and all other linen, kitchen utensils and certain other items of kitchen equipment.
§ Miss HorsbrughIs it the case that all the gas and electricity for the cooking and refrigerating plants is supplied free?
§ Sir J. GanzoniThe hon. Lady is correctly informed, but the difficulty of the Kitchen Committee is that they had to find £9,756 last year for salaries and wages, of which £2,222 was paid when the House was not sitting.
§ 38. Miss Horsbrughasked the hon. Member for Ipswich, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, what percentage of the selling price of food served in the dining rooms of the House of Commons represents the cost price of the raw materials?
§ Sir J. GanzoniThe costs of raw materials vary a little each week. The percentage for the week ended 4th December, 1937, was 70.60 per cent. (of the receipts for food).