§ 33. Dr. A. D. D. Broughtonasked the Minister of Food if he will allow women on reaching the age of 65 to have their tea ration increased by two ounces each week.
§ The Minister of Food (Major Lloyd George)No, Sir. To give more to special groups would only delay the time when I can increase the general ration or get rid of it altogether.
§ Dr. BroughtonIs the Minister aware that the present ration of tea is inadequate for older women, particularly those who live alone and have only one ration book in the house?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI can assure the hon. Gentleman that I am fully alive to the difficulties in the cases to which he has referred. I think it is better generally to move towards building up stocks so as to get rid of rationing altogether.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's original answer mean that he contemplates increasing the ration and getting rid of rationing altogether, and that he can give some approximate date?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI cannot give any date, but that is my objective, which I think is a good one.
§ Mr. ShinwellAre we to understand that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's answer is purely academic and that it is not a practical approach to the problem at all? Why did he give that answer?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI gave the answer because I thought it was a very good one.
§ Mr. ShinwellIf, in the opinion of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, the answer is a good one, will he now say whether this is an objective which he hopes to realise at an early date or whether it is to be put off until a remote date?