§ 35. Mr. Rankinasked the Lord President of the Council if he is satisfied that trade union conditions apply in all the dining rooms, tea rooms, smoking rooms and bars for which the Catering Sub-Committee are responsible; that customer choice is adequate in each; that supplies of food are of the highest quality; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaxwellI have been asked to reply.
I am at present in touch with trade union representatives with a view to enlisting their co-operation in all appropriate areas in the running of the Department. I have particularly in mind the 1116 setting up of Whitley-style machinery for joint consultation. Customer choice is as adequate as our economic resources permit. The standard of food is kept as high as possible—within the limits imposed by the means available.
§ Mr. RankinMy I urge my hon. Friend to press ahead with the attempt to establish trade union conditions in the Refreshment Department of the House of Commons? That should be easier here than in many other places.
On customer choice, is he aware that the 11s. 6d. diners had a choice of 17 different items, and that the 7s. eaters had a choice of seven items. Is he aware—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Questions must be brief.
§ Mr. RankinI have one or two items in the Question, Mr. Speaker, and they are important. Will my hon. Friend notice that the 7s. eater deserves a little more consideration? To take one item from the 11s. 6d. group and give it to the 7s. group is a good start, but will he take that process a little further?
§ Mr. MaxwellThe House will be pleased to know that the trade union representatives have reacted positively to the suggestion that Whitley-type machinery be set up. I hope soon to announce further arrangements, including a wage increase which is so desperately needed.
As to the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, customer choice is very closely related to what the customer is prepared to pay. Furthermore, it was economically necessary, in view of the wastage of food which was known to occur in the running of the Department and the consequent financial losses, to reduce customer choice in certain rooms. I feel that this approach is preferable to any lowering of standards.
§ 37. Mr. Danceasked the Lord President of the Council if he is aware of the restriction imposed on Members of the House in their selection of wines and tobacco, details of which have been sent to him; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that, as in the past, Members can select wines and tobacco to their taste.
§ Mr. MaxwellI have been asked to reply.
1117 Stocks of wine have recently been run down, because in the present financial situation the Refreshment Department cannot continue to allow a great deal of its cash to be tied up in such large stocks. This run-down was preparatory to putting the supply of wine on an entirely new basis, which will relieve the Department of the need to tie up capital in stocks of wine, and will also improve the choice. The change will take effect in the very near future.
I am aware of no restriction on the selection of tobacco.
§ Mr. DanceIs the hon. Member aware that for roughly the best part of a week, ending last Tuesday, no carafe white wine was available either in the Members' or in the Strangers' Dining Rooms, and that there was virtually no choice of tobacco or cigarettes? In fact, last Monday at one time we ran completely out. Does he think that it is a good advertisement for Britain that the Palace of Westminster should have such very poor stocks? Is he further aware that it is soul destroying—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We cannot have long questions like this. Mr. Maxwell.
§ Mr. MaxwellI am not aware that there has been any restriction on the selection of wines. There has for a period of two or three days been no service of a particular carafe wine due to shortage of staff, but this has now been remedied.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamNow that the financial situation is improving, can the hon. Gentleman say when the promised increase in salaries and wages will be paid?
§ Mr. MaxwellI can say that an increase has been promised, and I hope the increase will be paid as from October of this year.
§ Later—
§ Mr. DanceOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker, I seek your guidance. There may be some misunderstanding that in my supplementary question I was insinuating that this might be soul-destroying for hon. Members of this House. I did not mean that. I meant for members of our trusted staff.