HC Deb 20 February 1946 vol 419 cc1148-50
50. Miss Bacon

asked the Minister of Food if, for the benefit of those living in hotels and boarding establishments, he will arrange for such rationed goods as oranges and soap to be obtainable by presenting a personal ration book, as is the case with sweets, rather than the general ration book

Sir B. Smith

Oranges are not available with sufficient regularity to justify the use of a personal ration document such as that used for sweets. So far as the soap ration is concerned, while people who live in catering establishments licensed by my Department have no individual entitlement, the proprietor can forgo part of the allowance for the establishment and obtain coupons for a corresponding quantity for distribution to his residents.

Miss Bacon

Can the Minister state whether or not hotels receive supplies of oranges for the ration books they hold, and, if so, what happens to the oranges?

Sir B. Smith

The answer is, "No, Sir."

51. Mr. J. L. Williams

asked the Minister of Food the relative proportions of the meat supplies allocated in the Glasgow area for hotels and restaurants, staff canteens and ordinary family rations, respectively.

Sir B. Smith

Meat is allocated in the Glasgow area to the three groups indicated by my hon. Friend in the following proportions: Hotels and restaurants, including cafes, tea shops and other public eating places, 5.0 per cent.; Industrial canteens, British Restaurants, and school feeding, 2.3 per cent.; Ordinary family rations, 92.7 per cent.

59. Mrs. Castle

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the recent food cuts, he will now institute the rationing of meals in hotels and catering establishments.

Sir B. Smith

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which 1 gave to the hon. Members for Upton (Mr. A. Lewis) and Newport (Mr. P. Freeman) on 13th February.

Mrs. Castle

Is the Minister aware that if he were to check up the number of meals any one person can take per week off the ration in restaurants, he could safeguard the position of workers in canteens and school children, while preventing specially privileged sections of the community from eating ad libitum in restaurants while retaining their domesticrations?

Sir B. Smith

The policy of my Ministry has been to hold the scales as evenly as possible for all classes of the community. If I dealt with one aspect of this problem, it is obvious that I should have to deal with the whole, which would militate very greatly against the school children and against workers in canteens.

64. Mrs. Castle

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that meals are being served in private rooms in restaurants and hotels without any restriction on their price or on the number of courses served; and will he take steps to bring these meals within the restrictions of the catering regulations.

Sir B. Smith

The Meals in Establishments Order controls the number and composition of courses which may be served in private rooms in catering establishments. If my hon. Friend is aware of any instances in which she considers the law is not being observed and will let me have details I will make inquiries. The price restrictions of the Order do not apply to meals served in private rooms, and I do not propose to alter the existing law in this respect.

Mrs. Castle

May I ask the Minister if that means that any price whatever can be charged for a meal taken in a private room, and that any luxuries may be served there?

Sir B. Smith

The implication in the latter part of the question is not true, because they are controlled by Order to three courses.