§ 39. Mr. Gammansasked the Minister of Food if he will explain the functions of the Food Leader Scheme; how many people are being employed in a full- or part-time capacity in this scheme; and what is the estimated annual cost of it.
§ Mr. StracheyThe chief purpose of the Food Leader Scheme is to provide a voluntary link between the ordinary housewife and the cookery and nutrition experts of my Department. The food leaders number some 23,000, but they are not employed by my Department either in a full-time or part-time capacity: they give their services. The only expenditure incurred is for such items as the occasional hire of halls and the provision of display material and Food Leader badges, and by the Stationery Office for printing. No separate records of these small items are maintained and to extract particulars would involve a disproportionate expenditure of labour.
§ Mr. GammansWhat are these people supposed to do?
§ Mr. StracheyThey are supposed to give nutritional leadership in their areas. [Laughter.] What there is amusing in that I do not know. How easily hon. Members opposite are amused.
§ Sir W. SmithersThe right hon. Gentleman has no sense of humour.
§ Mr. StracheyThese people explain, for instance, the relief food and the welfare food schemes. I have just addressed a conference of them. I believe they are rendering a most valuable service. They are a group of very earnest people—[Laughter.]How extraordinary—and very public spirited women, some of whom belong to the party opposite.
§ Mr. GammansIn all seriousness, can the Minister explain what is meant by "nutritional leadership"?
§ Mr. StracheyThey explain to people the relative nutritional values of foodstuffs, so that the level of nutrition in the country shall be raised. That ought to be simple enough to understand.
§ Mr. BoothbyWill the Minister bring to the special attention of the food leaders the nutritional value of herring?