§ 12. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Food why the same restrictions now operating in British Restaurants are not also applied to British passenger ships at least in respect of the number of items to be selected from a generous menu.
§ Mr. StracheyThe amount of food that may be shipped aboard British passenger ships is already controlled, and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by attempting to decide how it may be used.
§ Mr. SorensenIs the Minister aware that, in fact, the menus on these ships are extremely generous and that passengers have a choice, not merely of one or 639 two dishes, but of any number, and does he think that that is in accordance with the supplies available at home?
§ Mr. StracheyThe main reason is that British passenger ships have to compete in the world market, and I think it would be very unwise to restrict their catering facilities.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes the Minister suggest that a simple choice of one, two or three dishes would prevent people sailing on our ships?
§ Mr. StracheyI think that, when our ships have to compete with what I might call dollar ships, it would be very unwise to restrict their earning capacity.