§ Sir W. Edgeasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what are the main causes of the restricted number of meals served in colliery canteens; and whether these can be removed.
Major Lloyd GeorgeOn the whole colliery canteens are well patronised and I assume that my hon. Friend's inquiry relates to the limited extent to which underground workers take a full meal in the canteen. Undoubtedly the main reasons for this are the nature of the miner's calling, which does not permit him to go to the canteen during working hours, and his not unnatural desire to return home as soon as possible after his day's work is done. In collaboration with my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Food and the Miner's Welfare Commission everything possible is being done to encourage miners to "feed on the job," both by insuring that the supplies of food available to their canteens are fully purchased and used in the provision of meals and by adoption of the services to meet local conditions and preferences.