Mr. David Adamsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, for purposes of meat rationing, school-meal centres of local authorities have been classed as catering establishments; whether he is aware that meat rations for school meals, already inadequate, have been reduced by a substantial percentage under this rationing; and what steps are proposed?
§ Mr. BoothbyThe answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. In regard to the second part, as catering establishments, school-meal centres have been permitted to serve meat meals without the surrender of a coupon being required, but, in common with other catering establishments, they have been rationed in their supplies of meat by being limited to 60 per cent. of their normal user. Complaints that the allocation of meat to school-meal centres is in general inadequate have not been received, but if the hon. Member cares to let me have par- 37W ticulars of any case in which the restricted supply is thought to be inadequate, I shall be glad to investigate the matter.