HC Deb 30 July 1946 vol 426 cc758-9
12. Mr. Keeling

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the importance of improving the cooking in the hotels of this country, he will draw the attention of juvenile employment committees throughout the country to the many vacancies for students in the cookery and hotel school of the Westminster Technical Institute of the L.C.C.

Mr. Ness Edwards

I will certainly do as the hon. Member asks, although the recruiting of boys for this school is primarily a matter for local education authorities.

Mr. Keeling

Having just come from the annual luncheon of the Kitchen Committee, which the Minister's chief also attended, may I ask the Minister whether he will do all in his power, by propaganda and otherwise, to remove the prejudice against cooking as a calling, so that the vacancies in this admirable L.C.C. school may be filled?

Mr. Edwards

We are, in fact, in the process of organising cookery courses under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour itself.