§ 49. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Food the total cost and the average amount per family per week spent on food and alcoholic beverages in 1938 and 1946.
§ Dr. Edith SummerskillHousehold expenditure on food as given in Cmd. 7099 was £1,181 million in 1938 and £1,494 million in 1946. On the assumption that the average family consists of 3.5 persons. the average family expenditure was about 1£ 14s od. in 1938 and £2 3s. 9d. in 1946. These figures do not include expenditure or food consumed in catering establishments. The total expenditure on alcoholic beverages in 1938 was £285 million and in 1946 £680 million. As everyone need not, and indeed does not, consume alcohol any average would be rather meaningless.