HC Deb 03 July 1967 vol 749 cc1266-7
39. Sir Knox Cunningham

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is satisfied that the recent increases, up to 50 per cent., in the cost of meals in the House of Commons square with the Government's policy on prices; which Government Department was consulted before these price increases were made; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maxwell

I have been asked to reply.

As the Services Committee pointed out in March, the continuing losses on the running of the Department and the bank overdraft to finance the deficit were both very considerable. In view of this serious situation, the Catering Sub-Committee urgenly sought remedies, which included certain increases in banqueting prices. Most of the increases are considerably less than 50 per cent. The increases take account of improved quality, and the abolition of separate charges for such things as menus, flowers, and cloakrooms. No Government Department was consulted.

I will arrange for details of the increases to be printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Sir Knox Cunningham

Is the Chairman of the Kitchen Committee aware that the present prices may well put paid to constituency dinners, and, now that hon. Members are paying very much more, will he consider back-dating the staff pay increase to at least 1st July?

Mr. Maxwell

I cannot agree with the first part of that supplementary question. Of 100 constituency dinners which have been notified since this price increase, only about four were cancelled because of the increase. Back-dating any wage increase, in view of the present situation of the Catering Department, would not be possible.

Mr. Rankin

Did my hon. Friend or any other responsible member of the Committee make an application to the National Board for Prices and Incomes to raise prices before they proceeded to do so?

Mr. Maxwell

The Catering Sub-Committee were not required to submit this question to any Government Department. We had a situation to deal with in which we were in considerable deficit. The Catering Sub-Committee took such steps as they found possible in order to remedy that situation and, in particular, to bring our banqueting charges more into line with those prevailing for similar services outside.

Sir Knox Cunningham

On a point of order. Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter again.

Following are the details of the increases:

House Sitting

House not Sitting (dinners only served)