HC Deb 14 December 1953 vol 522 cc24-5
37. Mr. Lewis

asked the Minister of Food if it is still the policy of his Department to withdraw or refuse the granting of a catering and food licence to hotels and catering establishments that operate the colour bar

Major Lloyd George

I deplore racial discrimination, but it is not within my power to employ licensing regulations to prevent it.

Mr. Lewis

Is the Minister aware that one of his predecessors did carry out this suggestion? Is he further aware that the Green Park Hotel, in correspondence with me, states that it is its policy to enforce the colour bar? Is it not disgraceful that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's Ministry should assist the hotel by granting it a catering licence, when he could refuse it?

Major Lloyd George

I am advised that I should exceed my powers if I attempted to use them for social ends, such as to prevent discrimination. There is, I understand, no obligation under the common law for a caterer to serve anyone, and I cannot override the common law in that respect. I should have thought that the most effective deterrent against colour discrimination was public opinion.

Miss Lee

Will the Minister look into this matter and consider in what form he can introduce legislation or take other adequate steps to make quite certain that we shall not be subjected to the disgrace of any coloured citizen in, or coloured visitor to, these islands being refused service by any catering establishment?

Major Lloyd George

I repeal that I am very strongly opposed to racial discrimination, but it does not lie within the power of myself or of my Department to use Regulations, which are for other purposes altogether, to do anything in this direction, particularly as, before long, all licensing of catering establishments will disappear.

Dr. Summerskill

Is the Minister aware that one of his predecessors informed certain hotels who were exercising the colour bar that he disapproved of this discrimination?

Major Lloyd George

I have done the same thing here this afternoon. I strongly disapprove of it.

Mr. Driberg

That is not the same thing at all.