§ 60. Earl Wintertonasked the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if any wines or spirits purchased for the Refreshment Department are sold for consumption off the premises; and if such sales are separately recorded in the accounts of the Kitchen Committee.
§ Mr. McEnteeYes, Sir. Such sales do take place on a limited scale at the request of Members. This service to Members has gone on for many years. It does not interfere with supplies in the bars of 33 the House, and no person is permitted to purchase anything that is in short supply. The practice helps the Committee to prevent loss by deterioration, to dispose of surplus stocks, and to increase turnover, all of which are beneficial to the Members of this House. Separate accounts are kept of these sales.
§ Earl WintertonMay I ask the hon. Gentleman—in order to make it clear that the Kitchen Committee, which does not pay taxes or licence duties, is not competing with the legitimate trade outside—if he will issue figures showing that this is only done in the case of redundant liquor and that it does not act as an unlicensed retailer?
§ Mr. McEnteeI can only say that there is no redundant liquor.
§ Earl WintertonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that his department claims that it sells only what it cannot dispose of in this House and it was in that sense I used the word "redundant"? May we have an assurance that the Kitchen Committee does not act as an unlicensed wine office?
§ Mr. McEnteeWe have never made that claim and do not make it now.
§ Mr. KeelingWould the hon. Gentleman confirm that these sales are at the full dining room prices, which are far in excess of the price at which the wine could be bought in the shops?
§ Mr. McEnteeThey are sold at the proper price, determined by the Ministry.
§ Mr. ErrollCan the hon. Member confirm that no sales are made to anybody other than Members of this House?
§ Mr. McEnteeSo far as I know, that is so.
§ Mr. ErrollWill the Minister look into that matter again?
§ Mr. McEnteeMinister!
§ Mr. ErrollThe "Minister of the Interior."
§ Mr. McEnteeI certainly will look into it. I do not think such a thing has occurred, but if it has, it is on a very small scale.
§ Earl WintertonIs the hon. Gentleman prepared to issue statistics in this matter—because some interest is taken outside— 34 showing the amount of sales of liquor released, compared to the general sales, and to whom those sales have been made?
§ Mr. McEnteeThe books of the Kitchen Committee are always open to the Members of the House. They are audited by the Government Auditor, and I do not personally see any need to make any change.
§ Earl WintertonThen I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment. It is a matter which wants looking into—very much looking into.