§ 53. Wing-Commander Roland Robinsonasked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the hardship caused to food executive officers and their assistants in the provinces, who are not allowed to claim subsistence allowances unless they are away from their offices for at least 10 hours; that, unlike their opposite numbers in the London area, most of these officers would normally eat their mid-day meal at home; and whether he will authorise reasonable out-of-pocket expenses to these officers when travelling on official business, even though their absence from their offices is for a shorter period than 10 hours.
§ Sir B. SmithThe officers in question are dealt with under regulations applicable to all staff of the Ministry of Food and the Civil Service generally. The circumstances to which the hon. and gallant Member refers do not afford any grounds for special treatment.
§ Wing-Commander RobinsonCan the right hon. Gentleman say why a town clerk, travelling as such, can draw his expenses, but if the same man travels as a food executive officer he has to pay the out-of-pocket expenses himself?
§ Sir B. SmithThe only difference is that I do not employ the town clerk.