HC Deb 15 March 1944 vol 398 cc243-4
59. Dr. Haden Guest

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the serving of meals in private rooms at hotels and restaurants without restriction of price is a cause of black market purchases of offals, poultry, fish and shellfish; and whether he will extend the Order limiting the prices of meals to private rooms in hotels and restaurants.

Colonel Llewellin

If my hon. Friend will provide me with any evidence he has in support of the statement made in his Question, I shall be glad to have it investigated.

Dr. Guest

Is the right hon. and gallant gentleman not aware that I have already provided the Parliamentary Secretary with a large amount of evidence, and I shall be very glad to provide him with some more? Unfortunately, there is a great deal.

Colonel Llewellin

I shall be glad to have it. Of course, we want evidence on which we can proceed against anybody guilty of a black market offence.

60. Dr. Haden Guest

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that food served in certain luxury restaurants is suplied to customers in such quantities and bought at prices as do not give a fair margin of profit under the Order limiting the prices of meals and that, in order to compensate for this, the sale of wines at high prices is forced on customers; and whether he will consider the introduction of a Limitation of Prices Order, to include drink supplied at meals to prevent these abuses.

Colonel Llewellin

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir," and to the second, that I have considered it and have come to the conclusion that it is not practicable to extend the present Order to wines.

Dr. Guest

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend be good enough to look at the series of menus at luxury restaurants, which I can supply and have prices estimated on the quantities of food sold, from which he will see that it is quite impossible that these quantities of food could have been served within the limited price?

Colonel Llewellin

I shall certainly be glad to look at any menus my hon. Friend sends me.

Viscountess Astor

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman go round and see for himself?