HC Deb 30 June 1952 vol 503 cc30-1
46. Mr. Anthony Greenwood

asked the hon. Member for Woolwich, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, on what principle certain proprietary brands of food are selected for reference by name on the menu of the Refreshment Department.

Mr. Steward (Chairman of the Kitchen Committee)

No general principle is applied—but if the hon. Member is referring to a certain brand of vegetables which appeared on the menu under their trade name I am informed that the objective was to advise Members that the commodities were of the frozen type and not tinned.

Mr. Greenwood

Will the hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that in future articles of that kind will be referred to as frozen and that publicity shall not be given to goods produced by a big monopoly like Unilever?

Mr. Steward

I will give consideration to the hon. Member's suggestion, but there are people in this House who like to know what they are being asked to eat.

Mr. Greenwood

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that he is enunciating a most dangerous principle?

Sir W. Darling

Will my hon. Friend take no such advice? Is he aware that it would be most improper to have a wine list which described wine as merely wine, beer as beer and whisky as whisky, and that we want to know the names of reliable branded goods whether they are for eating or drinking?