§ 55. Miss Eleanor Rathboneasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will reorganise the rationing system so as to secure greater equality of sacrifice and economy of food supplies, in view of the fact that the well-to-do are now able to take a daily meat meal in restaurants besides consuming their full ration at home, and supplementing their meat ration with fish and poultry, tea with coffee and jam with honey, while working-class mothers, with children, can neither afford to purchase these luxuries nor to frequent even the cheapest restaurants?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI shall be happy to consider any specific proposals which my hon. Friend can suggest, but I do not agree with the implications in the last part of the Question, and I am proposing to deal with this matter in the Debate later to-day.
§ Miss RathboneDoes my hon. and gallant Friend think that it conduces to the winning of the Battle of the Atlantic if everybody is allowed to eat and drink in restaurants as much as they please to the full extent of their capacity?
§ Mr. Speaker rose—
§ Miss RathboneOn a point of Order. As I have asked only one Supplementary Question may I not be allowed to finish it?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is not a question of the quantity of supplementaries, but a question of the quality.
§ Miss RathboneMay I ask if you would be good enough to inform me why the effect of this on national security is not a proper Supplementary Question to ask?
§ Mr. SpeakerBecause it is a subject for Debate and not for a Supplementary Question.
§ Miss RathboneI beg to give notice, in view of the fact that I have not been permitted to receive a full answer to this Question, that I will call attention to the matter at the earliest opportunity.
§ Mr. SpeakerIn giving that notice, it is unnecessary to make reflections on the Chair.