§ 52. Mr. Dumpletonasked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the need for increased food production and of the fact that agricultural workers have no canteens, he will consider, with the Minister of Food, the possibility of authorising county A.E.Cs. to institute mobile canteens to provide cooked meals for farmworkers.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe possibility has been considered on several occasions but as indicated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food on 8th July, 1946, in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Woodbridge (Mr. Hare), we have been driven to the conclusion that a mobile canteen service for farm workers would be impracticable.
Mr. BaldwinIs the Minister aware that the only solution of this unfair position is that extra rations should be allowed to the farm workers direct, instead of these fantastic schemes for canteens?
§ Mr. WilliamsI do not agree that they are fantastic.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs the Minister aware that during the floods there have been considerable numbers of mobile canteens circulating amongst the flood workers? What is the objection to doing the same thing for agricultural workers who will be working under very much the same conditions in similar scattered areas?
§ Mr. WilliamsAs the hon. and gallant Gentleman is aware, agriculture is a widely scattered industry, and it would require a very large number of floating canteens to provide the service indicated. I am afraid the loss of manpower would be almost equivalent to the gains we could get in food production.