§ 27. Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is satisfied with staff catering arrangements at the Foreign Office; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. George ThomsonNo, Sir. But some improvements have recently been made, and others are being pursued.
§ Mr. LewisI wonder what Ministers at the Foreign Office would think if guests were invited to the Foreign Office staff canteen and were to criticise it afterwards? Would the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster ask his right hon. Friend whether he thinks that it was helpful to go to the United States and criticise hospitality given to him there?
§ Mr. ThomsonI have said that I am not satisfied with the catering arrangements inside the Foreign Office for the Foreign Office staff, though I must say that there has been an effort since 1964 to bring about some substantial improvements. There has been reconstruction, and there has been an effort to provide better facilities. At the moment, the Foreign Office staff are also able to use other Government canteens in the Whitehall area.