§ Colonel LOCKWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will give a proportionate Return of the amount of food allowed to our soldiers at Aldershot and Dover as compared with that allowed to German prisoners in England?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMy hon. and gallant Friend will find the present German prisoners' ration in yesterday's OFFICIAL REPORT. The daily ration at present issued to the troops at home is as follows: ¾ lb. fresh meat or 1 lb. (nominal) preserved, 14 oz. bread, or 10½ oz. biscuit or flour, 2oz. of bacon, ½. of tea, 2oz. sugar, ¼ oz. salt. With the above ration a cash allowance of 5½d. a day per man is issuable to be expended solely on messing, to provide for the varying of the dietary of units at the discretion of their commanding officers.
§ Mr. HOGGEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many complaints are still received by Members of the unsatisfactory nature of the cooking of food for the Army at home; whether he can say if women cooks have been introduced into all camps yet, or whether he intends to introduce them; and whether, in view of the food shortage, he can make such arrangements to have the men so catered for in camp as to avoid the necessity of resorting to canteens, provided for voluntarily, and otherwise?
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§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am not aware that many such complaints are received, but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with specific instances I will have inquiry made. Several thousand women arc already employed in camp cook-houses, and the number is being increased as rapidly as possible, but the rate of progress depends on the provision of suitable accommodation. The catering arrangements are believed to be satisfactory, and the ration is fully adequate to the needs of the troops. The use of canteens and similar institutions is subject to the same restrictions as those imposed by the Food Controller on the civil population.