HC Deb 22 May 1950 vol 475 cc1635-6
31. Mr. Carr

asked the Minister of Food how much his Department proposes to spend in the current year on Press advertisements of cooking recipes; and how much was spent on the same purpose last year.

Mr. F. Willey

The place of cooking recipes in my Department's advertisements is purely incidental to their main purpose, which is to call attention to foodstuff supplies. I cannot, therefore, give an estimate of expenditure on this particular item.

Mr. Carr

Does the hon. Gentleman think that it is necessary to take up so much expensive space in newspapers for the inessential purposes which he mentioned? Would not the money spent on the rest of the space be better used from the housewife's point of view if, instead of telling her about the gastronomical glories of rabbits, the saving was put towards a reduction in Purchase Tax on some of the things which she has to buy?

Mr. Willey

Our experience indicates that these recipes are proving very useful.

Mrs. Castle

Is my hon. Friend aware that these advertisements are a very useful means of getting the housewife to take up home produced fruits which are temporarily in glut, and that the horticultural industry welcomes the co-operation of the Ministry in this matter?

Mr. Peter Thorneycroft

Would the Minister consider issuing a recipe for cooking rabbits in Algerian wine?