HC Deb 10 September 1941 vol 374 cc186-7
50. Miss Ward

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether any persons who are responsible for running households and doing the household shopping were consulted before the form of the last issue of ration books was decided upon?

Major Lloyd George

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a somewhat similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Denbigh (Sir H. Morris-Jones) on 26th June.

Miss Ward

As I am sure that answer was not satisfactory, has the Ministry got a single practical housewife behind it, because the ration books which were issued in the last war were infinitely simpler and more understandable than they are today? Will my right hon. and gallant Friend see that practical books are issued?

Major Lloyd George

I can assure my hon. Friend that we are doing everything we possibly can to simplify these books, because we realise what a burden they are. The average food office has something like 60,000 books to handle.

Miss Ward

Is it not a pity if it is to be assumed that the average food officer has more knowledge than the ordinary housewife?

Major Lloyd George

If my hon. Friend will look at the answer, she will see that there are one or two people at the Ministry of Food who know something about housekeeping.