§ 2.36 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether information can be provided as to what are the unrationed foods which it is sought by means of the orders relating to maximum prices for meals to prevent from undue diversion to catering establishments; and whether information can also be provided as to the approximate proportions of such foods in each case which are consumed in catering establishments.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE EARL OF HUNTINGDON)My Lords, we are concerned with any unrationed foods, for example, poultry, game or rabbits, which are in demand by the housewife but which are not in plentiful supply. I am afraid that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, may I ask whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to get rid this war-time anachronism before the next General Election?
§ THE EARL OF HUNTINGDONI think I should require notice of that question.
§ THE EARL OF HUNTINGDONIt means there are not plenty of them for use.
§ 2.38 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government on what grounds hotels, and restaurants, in which dollar receipts are so important to the nation, are by price control prohibited from selling to overseas visitors those expensive foodstuffs which can be bought and consumed without restriction by private householders, thereby earning no dollars.]
§ THE EARL OF HUNTINGDONMy Lords, the danger envisaged by His Majesty's Government is that permission to charge further additional prices to cover the cost of expensive foods would undermine the system of price control for meals in catering establishments, Higher prices charged for the more expensive unrationed foods might, for example, allow for greater quantities of cheaper unrationed foods to be served, to the disadvantage of the general housewife.
§ EARL HOWEIt the noble Earl aware that many hotels and catering establishments find it extraordinarily difficult to make enough money to be able to pay the wages laid down by the Catering Wages Act? Does he not think that there is considerable danger of a collapse of the hotel and restaurant industry, and of hotels shutting down because they cannot pay their way? Further, is the noble Earl aware that a large number of Americans who visited this country this year had made arrangements to stay here for a month or more but left after four or five days, owing to the difficulties which they encountered in the matter of hotels and restaurants? The noble Earl can obtain that information, just as I did, from the travel agencies.
§ THE EARL OF HUNTINGDONI was not aware of the facts, stated in the last part of the noble Earl's supplementary question. I will certainly look into the matter and see if, and why, visitors are leaving this country.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether he can give any answers to the three points which were put by my noble friend at the beginning of his question? The noble Earl has 1203 answered only the last point and not those relating to the difficulty which some hotels and restaurants have in keeping alive owing to conditions laid down in the Catering Wages Act.
§ THE EARL OF HUNTINGDONMy Lords, that opens up a much wider field than was apparent in the original Question, and I should require notice of it.