HC Deb 15 December 1947 vol 445 cc1440-2
18. Mr. Heathcoat Amory

asked the Minister of Food whether he will extend the extra cheese ration to all those who work in the open including lorry drivers in rural areas if their employment makes it necessary for them to carry a mid-day meal with them.

The Minister of Food (Mr. Strachey)

I regret that I cannot extend the extra cheese ration to every worker whose employment may take him into a rural area.

Mr. Amory

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration that a number of truck drivers in rural areas do a good deal of loading and unloading as well as driving; and will he look into the matter again, as it appears that the rules as at present drafted exclude a large number of people in rural areas who cannot get home for a midday meal or go to a canteen?

Mr. Strachey

I would very much like to extend the special cheese ration as widely as possible in rural areas. We have just extended it to a new large category—the rural builders—and I am afraid that we cannot go further at the moment because of supplies.

Mr. York

Is the Minister aware that lorry drivers working for private contractors do not receive this extra cheese ration, whereas lorry drivers working for county councils do; and does he realise the number of similar anomalies to this that are in existence?

Mr. Strachey

I will look into that point, but I am not aware of it.

19. Mr. Amory

asked the Minister of Food why persons who would qualify otherwise for the extra cheese ration are ineligible if they are self-employed; and whether he will take steps to correct this anomaly.

Mr. Strachey

As a general rule, self-employed workers are able to make arrangements for obtaining a mid-day meal. I regret that I cannot allow them the special cheese ration.

Mr. Amory

Will the Minister look into this matter again? I think that he will find, particularly in the case of small self-employed men—like the small builder working side by side with his men—the present regulations prevent such people from getting extra cheese?

Mr. David Renton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many smallholding farmers, whose homes are not close to their fields, are not able to get a hot midday meal, and as the regulations are based on a wrong assumption will he reconsider them?

Mr. Strachey

Self-employers in rural areas are, for the greater part, farmers, as my hon. Friend suggests; but I cannot agree that they are in a specially difficult position with regard to food. I think that they are in a very much more favoured position than most of us.

Mr. Orr-Ewing

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider this? Is he not aware that a large number of market gardeners and others are self-employed and work at considerable distances from their homes? In view of the fact that this arrangement about special rations was come to long before any differentiation was allowed for in the rationing system, surely, it is right for the whole question to be reconsidered now?

Mr. Strachey

I cannot agree.

Mr. De la Bère

Why not?

Major Tufton Beamish

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.