§ 33. Mr. Turtonasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the accounts of N.A.A.F.I. for last year show that they made a profit of more than 8 per cent., he will consult with the Board of Management with a view to the reduction of the prices of articles sold to the troops?
§ Sir J. GriggNearly three-quarters of that 8 per cent. was paid out in the agreed 6 per cent. rebate and discount to unit funds. The balance provides a working margin which hardly seems excessive, particularly as sums for entertainment must be provided out of it.
§ Mr. TurtonWill my right hon. Friend institute an inquiry into N.A.A.F.I. policy in providing cheap entertainment at the expense of the soldiers' purchases of refreshments?
§ Sir J. GriggI am in favour of that policy, and I do not think it is necessary to have any inquiry about it. In any case, if the whole of the profits, including those allotted to entertainment, were to be distributed in the form of reduction of prices, it would not, over the whole field, be more than one penny in the shilling. That is a fair measure of the profits obtained; but I understand that N.A.A.F.I. are considering the question of selective reductions in prices in overseas theatres.