§ 2. Captain Profumoasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the quantities of rationed foods 744 allowed to members of the Royal Air Force who are fed in service messes are substantially different from those allowed to members of the service who are not so fed; and whether he will consider an adjustment to the R.B.8.X. and R.B.8.R. ration cards to remedy the irregularity?
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Air (Captain Harold Balfour)Servicepersonnel not fed in messes hold ration cards which, in the main, entitle them to purchase the same quantities of rationed foodstuffs as civilians. This arrangement which was made after careful consideration by the three Service Departments and the Ministry of Food, is equitable as between members of one community living in similar conditions and I do not consider that any change is called for.
§ Captain ProfumoDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that officers of the Royal Air Force who are on active operations and through no fault of their own are living out of messes are not, in point of fact, getting the same quantity of rations as those officers living in messes?
§ Captain BalfourThe question of air crews who are living out is specially watched by our medical authorities, and certain cash allowances are paid to personnel living out which enable them to buy unrationed foods which those who live in barracks are not able to have.