HC Deb 23 April 1941 vol 371 cc151-4
40. Mr. De la Bére

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in connection with the cheese ration for agricultural workers, he will put on the same footing with the agricultural workers the market gardeners who are small master men; and, to prevent the abuse of such extension of this scheme, only make it applicable in the case of a small market gardener employing no paid labour, who should be regarded as being in the same category as a labourer; and whether he will favourably consider granting this extra ration by means of an application form with a declaration by the applicant, endorsed by a qualified person, such as is done in the case of the National Milk Scheme?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Major Lloyd George)

No, Sir, my Noble Friend does not see his way to extend the special ration in the manner suggested by my hon. Friend. I would refer, in this connection, to the reply which I gave to Questions on this subject on 2nd April.

Mr. De la Bére

Does not my hon. and gallant Friend appreciate that small master men are entitled to the same consideration as the agricultural workers, more especially as they provide a great amount of food for the national larder and are quite indispensable if we are to get the best results in this country? Will he give the matter further thought, because I know he is really sympathetic?

Mr. Price

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman say on what basis the allocation is being made? Is it on the basis of insurance cards or on the basis of whether or not a person lives near his work or has to travel long distances?

Major Lloyd George

When one makes this sort of arrangement there has to be a rough and ready basis, and we thought that the simplest method in regard to agricultural workers was the insurance card basis.

Sir Joseph Nall

Is it not most unfair to real smallholders? It is inviting smallholders to get round the silly regulation by employing each other.

Major Lloyd George

I do not see what hardship there is to the smallholder. The fact that he is a smallholder shows that he cannot be very far from home. I do not see that they are suffering any real hardship.

41. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can arrange to add railway-men to the other categories eligible for a special cheese allowance as their duties require absence from home and inaccessibility to canteens or other food services?

Major Lloyd George

I have nothing to, add to the answer which I gave on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Ely (Mr. de Rothschild) on 2nd April.

Mr. Woodburn

Is the Minister aware that men working on the railway have to be away from home and that there is no possibility of access to canteens or any other method of obtaining food? Is it not important that this concession should be extended to railwaymen?

Major Lloyd George

As mentioned in a previous reply, consideration is being given to the matter.

Mr. George Griffiths

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware of the great dissatisfaction among surface mine-workers? They work as hard on the top as do men below, and will he see that they, too, get a supply of cheese?

Major Lloyd George

On all these matters we consider the position of the men after advice from their representatives.

Mr. Griffiths

Will the Parliamentary Secretary consult me, because I can give him advice?

42. Commander Bower

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the difference in the cheese ration allotted to men occupied in heavy work, who may be working or residing alongside one another, such as agricultural and forestry workers, or miners and steelworkers, is causing grave dissatisfaction; and whether he will take steps to make the distribution more equitable?

Major Lloyd George

The higher ration of cheese is not allotted to men by reason of their being employed on heavy work, but is to meet the special cases of the underground miner and agricultural worker who require to take suitable food to their work. In view of the limited supply of cheese available, my Noble Friend regrets that he is unable at present to sec his way to extend the number pf workers who are eligible for the special ration. The working of the scheme will, however, be kept under constant review.

Commander Bower

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that it would be much better if this rationing was allotted on the basis of the habits of the men concerned? It is not only miners who take their food to work. Many categories of steel workers do so, and this scheme inflicts great hardship on them.

Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

Would the hon. and gallant Gentleman reconsider this matter? There are smallholders and agricultural people on their own, and is not the answer he has given a little bit bureaucratic and wooden, and unlike his usual imaginative replies?

Major Lloyd George

I have never given a wooden answer. The hon. Gentleman will realise that when you are drawing a line, you cannot make it perfect for everyone. You are bound to get strain on both sides, and therefore it is a little difficult. But we are keeping the scheme under constant review, although we are governed largely by the supply position. We are doing everything we possibly can to meet certain definite hardships.