HC Deb 08 March 1982 vol 19 cc598-9
32. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will arrange for the Refreshment Sub-Committee of the Services Committee to consider the question of encouraging the provisions of low cholesterol meals in the House.

Mr. Joseph Dean

I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Chairman.

I can give the hon. Lady an undertaking that we shall look into the question.

Mrs. Short

I thank my hon. Friend for his helpful reply. Will he agree that while many people are aware of the dangers of the consumption of large quantities of butter, they are not so much aware of the problems associated with full fat milk? Will he suggest to the Refreshment Sub-Committee that it may care to invite the advice of the coronary unit at University College hospital, which has undertaken a good deal of work on the matter?

Mr. Dean

I can give an undertaking that we shall examine the widest aspects of the problem. I must, however, say that the outcome may have to be decided by the economics of the situation.

Mr. Alan Clark

Will the hon. Gentleman raise with the Refreshment Sub-Committee the subject of early-day motion 311, which, apart from serving the incontrovertible purpose of congratulating the Sub-Committee on the cold buffet in the Members' Dining Room, allies with this the somewhat revolutionary concept that hon. Members' spouses should be admitted to the Members' Dining Room for lunch? Should the Refreshment Sub-Committee consider so radical a change to our existing arrangements, does the hon. Gentleman think it proper that the persons so invited should simply help themselves at the buffet and then proceed quietly and quickly into the corridor to consume their food rather than disturb our traditional and congenial arrangements?

Mr. Dean

I do not think that the hon. Gentleman's question forms part of the original question. I would, however, view with disdain taking any action on the early-day motion. The next thing that would happen is that hon. Members' wives would wish to bring in children, and I can see no end of trouble arising.