§ 24. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Food why the new ration books contain six pages of coupons for tea and sweets and four other pages of coupons for purposes not disclosed.
Dr. HillThe decisions to deration tea and sweets were taken after the printing of the ration books had started. The other pages were included to deal with any emergency that might arise during the life of the ration books.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Government have had printed some 500 million pages of coupons which can only be justified on the assumption that tea and sweets may have to be rationed once again during the forthcoming year?
Dr. HillThere is no question of those two forms of rationing returning under the present Administration. The hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that the printing started almost a year ago —it had to. Secondly, disregarding the pages for re-registration, there is a saving of 10 pages this year compared with the number of pages last year.