§ 79. Mr. Glanvilleasked the Minister of Food whether in view of the fact that many collieries in Durham have no pithead baths and inadequate canteen accommodation, he will consider the question of granting an increased meat allowance in the home?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Mr. Mabane)No, Sir. It would be contrary to general policy to grant extra domestic rations of meat or other rationed foods to any particular section of workers. The special cheese ration is available to underground mine workers who work at pits without canteen facilities. As stated in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham 1400 (Mr. Keeling) on 10th November, my Department is prepared to arrange for the supply of food on the Category A scale for all pits at which canteen facilities are provided, to encourage and assist the provision of good meals for workers "on the job." Arrangements can also be made to enable canteens to provide suitable snacks for consumption underground.
§ Mr. GlanvilleIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in the industrial areas workers' wives stand for hours in queues waiting to buy meat, and that dozens of miners return without having had any dinner of any description, except for something called Spam? Will he carry out an investigation?