HC Deb 17 July 1946 vol 425 cc1226-8
Mr. Churchill

With regard to the Debate for tomorrow evening on the bread rationing Order, can you, Mr. Speaker, give us any information as to the latitude which will be permitted?

Mr. Speaker

I think it would be for the convenience of the House if I made a statement now. Subject to general agreement, I am prepared to allow a reasonably wide Debate, but it must be understood that it must be directly relevant to the Order before the House, and that we cannot go into the whole situation in Europe and Germany, and that sort of thing. I want it to be understood that this must not be regarded as a precedent for Debates on future Orders. I am allowing a wider Debate which is rather outside the usual range on Prayers against Orders, because this is a major change affecting a major item of the people's food. It must not, therefore, be taken as a precedent for future Prayers against Orders, and it is on this account only that I am prepared to allow a reasonably wide Debate.

Mr. Gallacher

Would it be in Order for the Opposition to lead a hunger march through the Lobby?

Mr. Snadden

Will it be possible to discuss at the same time the effect of oatmeal pointing, which is very closely related to bread rationing?

Mr. Speaker

Oatmeal does not come into the Order—I gather that oatmeal was dealt with the other day by the Minister of Food. It would be widening the Debate far too much.

Mr. Snadden

May I point out that B.U. points can be surrendered in order to purchase oatmeal, and that the two matters are interlocked? We, in Scotland, feel that we cannot discuss bread rationing unless we are allowed to refer to oatmeal pointing.

Mr. Stephen

May I also point out that oat cakes form a fairly substantial proportion of meals in Scottish homes, and that during the whole period of rationing oat cakes have never been on points the same as biscuits in England? I am wondering therefore whether there could not be some latitude in the Debate.

Mr. Speaker

There is a Schedule to the Order, and oatmeal is not down among the foods mentioned—I looked at it this morning—and therefore it would be bringing in something extraneous to the Order. I must say that discussion on oatmeal would not come within the limits of this Prayer.

Mr. Spence

May I point out that in the North-East oatmeal very largely takes the place of bread?

Mr. Speaker

Oatmeal does not come into the Order, and I do not see why we should discuss it. Oatmeal is also a food in my part of the world.

Mr. Spence

Oatmeal can be obtained only by surrendering points, and the necessary points can only be got by surrendering bread coupons.

Mr. Rankin

In view of the fact that bread units can be surrendered for points, and points can be utilised to purchase tinned salmon, would tinned salmon then be a matter for Debate?

Mr. Speaker

That is exactly the sort of point I was trying to make. If we can debate tinned salmon, why not oatmeal, or sardines? We must stick to what is in the Order.