§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what rules have been prescribed for a local inquiry, which must precede the establishment of a British Restaurant, where representations have been received that the catering trade is able to give the required service; how many such inquiries have been held; and with what results?
§ Mr. MabaneIn accordance with the undertaking given by my Noble Friend the instructions of the Ministry are that if representations are received from local caterers, in relation to a proposal by a local authority to establish a British Restaurant, to the effect that the catering trade in the area can give the required service, full inquiry must be made locally by a representative of the Ministry and a report prepared for consideration by the Ministry before a decision is reached as to whether the proposal should be approved. Protests against the establishment of British Restaurants have been received from local caterers in 41 cases and in all these cases inquiry has been made locally. Of these, six were in anticipation of proposals which were never formulated, two were withdrawn and in three instances the protests were upheld and the proposal for a British Restaurant was not approved. In the remaining 30 cases, the establishment of the British Restaurant was approved.
1224W