§ Mr. Cryerasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the letter of 21 November from Fred Staveley and Son Ltd. expressing concern about deficits in the Refreshment Department has been examined by the Catering Sub-Committee; and what subsequent investigations were carried out.
§ Mr. Charles IrvingI have been asked to reply.
The matter was not examined by the Catering Sub-Committee, but was discussed with the stocktakers by the General Manager. It is not unusual for deficits of this kind to be found in a catering organisation. The stocktaking for the next period, also carried out by Fred Staveley and Son Ltd., showed an overall 475W surplus, indicating that the internal accountancy was behind schedule.