§ 44. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Food if he is satisfied that aged people are able to get adequate nutrition from present rations; and whether he will make some investigation into their special difficulties.
§ Mr. StracheyI realise the difficulties of old people, and my Department is making investigations into their special cases.
§ Mr. J. S. C. ReidHow does the right hon. Gentleman think that old people can supplement their rations, which only amount to 1,600 calories a day, so as to give them an adequate diet?
§ Mr. StracheyI think my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Beswick) was referring to the additional difficulties which old people have when shopping in fish shops and so forth. We should very much like to help them, but it is not an easy problem.
§ Mr. BeswickWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there is also a special difficulty in that these old people are often unable to digest some of the food available on the ration, and, therefore, they have a special claim for some supplementary rations?
§ Mr. StracheyYes, Sir, we take that fact into account also.
§ 73. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Food if he will arrange for special queue priority cards for aged people, similiar to those provided for expectant mothers.
§ Mr. StracheyI am sorry, but we feel convinced that if we tried to extend the queue priority system it would tend to become worthless.