HC Deb 18 January 1944 vol 396 cc15-6
25. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare, if he has any information as to what is the food ration, respectively, of the British, German and United States coalminer employed under similar conditions.

Mr. Foot

I am afraid that no exact comparison is possible. The British miner can obtain rationed foodstuffs in canteens or restaurants without giving coupons, and bread and potatoes are unrationed. The German miner, although he receives substantial supplementary rations over and above those of the normal German consumer, must surrender coupons for all meals eaten in canteens or restaurants; bread is included in his ration, and there is also local rationing of potatoes. The United States has a system of global rationing which is wholly different from the British and German systems.

Mr. Davies

When the hon. Gentleman says that it is difficult to answer my question, how comes it about that he is answering other questions about wolfram and the rest of it?