§ 51. Captain Gammansasked the Minister of Food if any additional allocation of food was given to the Letchworth, Hitchin and District Co-operative Society for a special tea party given at Hitchin town hall on 9th June; and, if not, whether he will have inquiries made as to where the food was obtained.
§ Colonel LlewellinThe answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir." The normal supplies of food available to a catering establishment were used on the occasion to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers.
§ Captain GammansHas my right hon. and gallant Friend had any protest from the local traders on this subject.
§ Colonel LlewellinIt is the ordinary practice that catering establishments provide teas if they are allowed to do so. That is why they are catering establishments.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes this Question not demonstrate that if you want more food you should join the local co-operative society?
§ Colonel LlewellinI do not think it demonstrates that at all. What it demonstrates is that this co-operative society was working completely within the rules, but it does not mean that other caterers could not have provided this tea.
§ Captain McEwenWas there any tinge of propaganda attached to that supplementary question?