HC Deb 20 December 1956 vol 562 cc1429-31
5. Mr. Vane

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange for milk to be on sale at all licensed premises under his control within State management districts.

Major Lloyd-George

No, Sir.

Mr. Vane

In view of the surplus of liquid milk which is worrying producers, the Milk Marketing Board, and taxpayers, could not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman try this experiment, to see whether he cannot make a small contribution towards dealing with this very important problem?

Major Lloyd-George

There are other places in Carlisle where one can get milk. If my hon. Friend is hoping to get rid of surplus milk by offering it for sale in public houses he is more optimistic than I am. There are milk bars in Carlisle, and in all the hotels and restaurants run by State management people can get milk.

Mr. Hastings

Is it not the duty of licensed houses to provide food as well as drink? Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree that one of the most valuable foods is milk?

Major Lloyd-George

I do not dispute that with the hon. Member for a moment that is perfectly true. But I regret to have to inform him that there is no demand for milk in licensed premises in Carlisle.

12. Dr. D. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the managers of Carlisle State Management Scheme public houses have been instructed to increase their profit margins by putting a bigger collar on the pints of beer they serve; by what authority this instruction has been given; and if he will make a statement.

Major Lloyd-George

I am glad to take this opportunity of repudiating the suggestion that any public house manager in the Carlisle State Management Scheme has ever been instructed to increase profits by giving short measure. On the contrary the Home Office has assured the Civil Service Union, which represents the managers of State Management Public Houses, that such practices would not be tolerated.

Dr. Johnson

Is the Home Secretary aware that I have checked this information and I am prepared to supply to him the reliable source from which I obtained it? Will he at least ensure that my constituents who, as he has just said, would prefer to drink beer rather than milk in their pubs, are not subjected to this form of national economy during the coming season?

Major Lloyd-George

I have already said that I repudiate wholly what has been said, and I have done so on information. Before I took over the office of Home Secretary, in September, 1954, the Civil Service Union was asked to supply evidence in regard to this, and up to now we have not received any such evidence.

Mr. Wigg

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consult the Secretary of State for War and ascertain from him that the technical name for this operation is not a collar on the pint but giving it too wide a chinstrap?