HC Deb 20 June 1939 vol 348 cc1998-9
33. Mr. G. Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the militiamen who are now being called up are having the same amount of butter in their rations as the Regular Army, which is one ounce per day, or are the militia men having margarine in the diet for breakfast every day?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

Militiamen will receive the same rations as Regular Army troops, including one ounce of butter and half an ounce of margarine a man a day.

Mr. Griffiths

Is the Secretary of State for War aware that the diet list hung up at Colchester Camp provides for margarine for these militiamen on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday mornings, and no butter at all?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

If the hon. Gentleman wishes to call my attention to any reform which it is desirable to institute, I shall be very glad to consider it, but I understood that he was very pleased about the butter.

Mr. Griffiths

I am delighted about the butter, and I want these lads to have butter instead of margarine. They are having margarine on these mornings, and will the right hon. Gentleman see that they get butter?

35. Mr. Turton

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the 69th Field Regiment of Royal Artillery were, on 10th and nth June, 1939, when in camp at Otley Chevin, served with boiled eggs of Estonian origin, and that the eggs were unfit for human consumption; and whether he will take the necessary steps to secure that the Army in future is fed on home-produced new-laid eggs?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

Eggs are bought by messing officers from a cash allowance, and, on the occasion in question, eggs of Estonian origin were provided. I am informed that they were quite good, and that there were no complaints. It is not proposed to interfere with the discretion of messing officers in such matters.

Mr. Turton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, when the shells were removed, the eggs were bright green in colour, and that there is great dissatisfaction about the origin of eggs supplied to the Army from all over the country?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

In justice to Estonia, I must correct that statement, because at the end of the meal it appears that there were a number of eggs left over, and the men asked that they should be allowed to consume them, and did. It is known that one man actually ate five of these eggs.

Mr. G. Griffiths

Is he still alive?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

The officers also ate some of the same supply of eggs, and the whole battalion is still flourishing.