§ 51. Mr. Wootton-Daviesasked the Minister of Food whether it is the policy of his Department that British Restaurants which cannot pay their way should be closed down.
§ The Minister of Food (Colonel Llewellin)Yes, Sir, but only after every effort has been made to place the restaurant concerned on a self-supporting basis.
§ Mr. A. EdwardsCan the Minister say what proportion of these restaurants are not self-supporting?
§ Colonel LlewellinIn the last year the net number closed down was eight.
§ 52. Mr. Hugh Lawsonasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the Skipton Urban District Council has decided not to establish a British Restaurant; if he has been informed of the reasons for this decision; and if he is satisfied that the reasons are adequate.
§ Colonel LlewellinYes, Sir. I have been informed that the Skipton urban district council has decided not to establish a British Restaurant. As the hon. Member is aware, this responsibility rests with the local authority concerned, and I do not consider that I should intervene in this case.
§ Mr. Evelyn WalkdenHas it not been the policy of the Minister, when a local authority has refused, for reasons best known to itself, to open a British Restaurant, to hold an inquiry and to establish one himself in certain areas?
§ 53. Mr. Hugh Lawsonasked the Minister of Food who bore the cost of transporting the parts of a sectional hut to Skipton for the purpose of erecting a British Restaurant; and who bore the cost of their removal.
§ Colonel LlewellinThe costs both of transporting the parts of the hut to Skip-ton and of removing them will be borne by the Exchequer.