§ 45. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Mooreasked the Prime Minister whether the public speech delivered on Tuesday, 14th March, by the Minister of Food, indicating that rationing of food would continue for years after the war, represents the policy of the Government.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Churchill)The full text of the speech of my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Food shows clearly that he is no advocate of rationing for rationing's sake and in particular that he is a firm believer in the fact that we are down, in this country, to the minimum ration diet which will enable it to realise its full war effort in the field and in the factory. It is obvious that rationing will have to continue for some time after the end of the war. I do not, therefore, consider that my right hon. and gallant Friend's speech raised any new issue. I am sending a copy of it to my hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Sir T. MooreWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for his generosity, may I ask him whether he is satisfied that it is fair and right to distress and depress gallant housewives, who have quite enough on their minds and hands in coping with present problems?
§ The Prime MinisterAs a matter of fact, I think that the whole business of food distribution during this war has been thought to be a pretty good show.
Viscountess AstorIs it not true that our gallant housewives would probably get nothing, if it were not for the rationing scheme?
§ Mr. WoodburnIs it not a fact that many housewives are getting more under the present rationing scheme than they would in peacetime, under the normal system?