§ Mr. GILBERTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he will state the basis on which national food kitchens are to be run by local food committees; is all or any of the capital cost of establishing such kitchens found by his Department; and will he state that if there is any loss on the maintenance account whether his Department make good such losses or whether they will have to be a charge on the local rates of the district where the kitchens are established?
§ Mr. CLYNESLocal authorities are empowered to establish and maintain national food kitchens within their areas, and they may delegate their powers to local food committees. The Treasury has sanctioned the grant of a loan, free of interest, for the full amount of the approved capital outlay upon the establishment of any kitchen, such loan to be repaid by the local authority in ten yearly instalments. Any loss on the maintenance account would be a charge on the local rates of the district where the kitchen is established, but given careful management there is no reason why these kitchens should not be self-supporting, as in most cases they already are.