HC Deb 26 February 1969 vol 778 cc1714-7
36. Mr. Henig

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will undertake a review with the aim of ensuring that the prices of items of food and refreshments sold in the House of Commons are not greater than those charged at comparable commercial enterprises outside.

Mr. Maxwell

I have been asked to reply.

Such reviews are constantly made.

Mr. Henig

Is my hon. Friend aware that his Answer is quite inadequate, and that in the cafeterias and snack bars we are invited to pay such prices as 5d. for bread and butter, and in the restaurant Is. 9d. for a thimbleful of cream? Surely hon. Members ought not to be penalised for the peculiar conditions that are inevitable in serving refreshments in the Palace of Westminster or be expected to make up losses incurred in the distant past?

Mr. Maxwell

The Catering Sub-Committee is not seeking to make up losses for the distant past. We attempt to pay our way. If the hon. Member wishes to complain of specific prices such as he has mentioned we shall be glad to look into them.

Sir G. Nabarro

Will the hon. Gentleman assure hon. Members in all parts of the House that prices are not being related to the cost of staff alone, and that the recent dismissal of a popular executive in the Strangers' Room was not on grounds of economy?

Mr. Maxwell

This matter really requires another Question to be put down. I am glad to assure the House that the member of the staff to whom the hon. Gentleman has referred was not dismissed but resigned, and that the Committee is looking into the circumstances. In reply to the first part of the question, I am glad to assure the hon. Member that price increases are related only to cost increases.

37. Mr. Henig

asked the Lord President of the Council what steps he plans to take to improve the service in the Members' Cafeteria.

Mr. Maxwell

I have been asked to reply.

Alterations to the Members' and Strangers' Cafeterias are to be made during the Summer Recess. These will result in larger kitchen and service areas, and enable, it is hoped, a generally improved service to be given to Members, staff and guests.

Mr. Henig

That is a most welcome piece of information. Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that many hon. Members have to entertain guests in the cafeterias downstairs, and is he aware that the evening menu has not, to my certain knowledge, been changed for the last three years? It has remained at Welsh rarebit, pork sausage and "chips with everything".

Mr. Maxwell

All the dishes which my hon. Friend has described are splendid ones, but I must correct him; only last week we had at least two changes. If he finds the fare monotonous, I shall be glad to look at it again.

Mr. Turton

Will the hon. Gentleman rest assured that the quality and the courtesy of the service is probably higher in the Members' Cafeteria than in any other establishment in the country?

Mr. Maxwell

I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman. I assure him that the staff will appreciate this, and will continue to give the good service which they have given in the past.

Mr. Shinwell

Is not the real trouble that, instead of an intellectual presiding over these affairs, we ought to have someone with a knowledge of business?

Several Hon. Members rose

——

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Kitson.

Mr. Kitson rose

——

Sir C. Taylor

On a point of order. I was listening at the microphone and I had the impression that you called me, Mr. Speaker, before the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Maxwell) got up again. He got up rather unexpectedly.

Mr. Speaker

That point of order has cost a Question. Mr. Kitson.

Mr. Kitson

Will the hon. Member make a personal attempt to kill the mice that have returned to the cafeteria?

Mr. Maxwell

This is obviously an occupation for intellectuals, and I cannot give that undertaking, but I will certainly take up the matter with the Department of Agriculture.

40 and 41. Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

asked the Lord President of the Council (1) on what date the Catering Sub-Committee authorised the continuation of the one shilling surcharge on meat courses after the ending of the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in the United Kingdom;

(2) whether he is aware that although the foot-and-mouth epidemic in the United Kingdom ended many months ago the one shilling surcharge on meat courses imposed for its duration is still charged; and if he will now take steps to remove this.

Mr. Maxwell

I have been asked to reply.

There has been no formal decision by the Catering Sub-Committee. The surcharge has been retained because meat prices have, regrettably not dropped since the end of the epidemic.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

Is it not wrong that the Chairman of the Catering Sub-Committee should on his own authority manipulate prices in this manner without the consent of the Catering Sub-Committee or the House?

Mr. Maxwell

If the hon. Member wishes to insist on that question he had better put down a Motion to that effect. The authority for price rises is with the Catering Sub-Committee, and the surcharge has not been withdrawn for the reasons which I have stated.