§ 45. Mr. Lewisasked the hon. Member for Woolwich, West as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, how, in view of the rise in the price of food and general overheads, the receipts from the Members Dining Room fell from £23,813 in 1946 to £13,920 in 1951.
§ Mr. W. A. StewardA number of factors could have contributed to the difference in receipts in the Members' Dining Room for the years 1946 and 1951. In March, 1946, Members' salaries were increased from £600 to £1,000 per annum, and probably Members felt they had more money to spend on food in the House, and in fact, did spend more. In the succeeding years 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950 33 and 1951, as the cost of living steadily rose, Members no doubt began to economise.
§ Mr. LewisIs the hon. Member aware of the fact that most hon. Members are of the opinion that the reason for the rapid decline is the fact that the price of meals is too excessive in the Dining Room and will he look at that matter?
§ Mr. StewardWe have already looked at the prices of meals in the House and I think the hon. Member will see that we have effected certain alterations as from today.
§ Mr. LewisBut is the hon. Member aware that the Tea Room revenue has gone up, thus proving that hon. Members are being driven out of the Dining Room into the Tea Room as they cannot afford to eat in the Dining Room at present high rates?
§ Mr. StewardThe fact that hon. Members are using the Tea Room more than the Dining Room merely proves they have not quite so much to spend as they had.