§ 20. Mr. Prittasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that British beer is at present available for sale in the Middle East only on premises which are out of bounds for other ranks; and whether he will take steps to see that such beer shall be available to other ranks as well as to officers.
§ Sir J. GriggSince the beginning of this year no British beer has been consigned for troops or civilians in Egypt. Beer is brewed locally and is available to both other ranks and officers through Institutes in the usual way. The hon. and learned Member is probably referring to one consignment of British beer which was exported under civilian auspices before the ban on exports was imposed, was landed by mistake in Egypt, and was sold by a local civilian purchaser to civilian caterers. Had it been imported under military or N.A.A.F.I. control, it would have been distributed for consumption in Regimental Institutes, canteens and messes in the same way as the beer now being brewed in Egypt.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsWould it not be possible for my right hon. Friend to solve two problems at once, if he arranged that the qualification to draw beer was the production of a certificate that the man had registered as an elector?